PITTSFIELD – Eldon L. Laplant, 85, died July 22, 2004, at a Pittsfield healthcare facility, following a long illness. He was born Aug. 31, 1918, in Sutton, Quebec, the son of Leon B. and Mary J. (Getty) Laplant. He graduated from Franklin Vt. High School, Class of 1938, and furthered his education at the Vermont Technical Collage in Randolph, Vt., graduating in 1940. He married Joyce Sunderland in Georgia, Vt., Dec. 18, 1942, and she died Oct. 24, 2000, following 57 years of marriage. He was employed as a D.H.I.A. Milk Tester in Vermont, a Dairy Farmer in Georgia, Vt. He was a loan officer for the Franklin County Bank in Vermont from 1959-1967. He then took a position as Farm Credit Manager in Newport. For four years until he accepted a position as a supervisor at Banton Brothers Mill in Newport, and worked there until his retirement in 1983. He attended the Georgia Plains Baptist Church in Vermont, and attended the High Street Congregational Church in Newport, and served a chairman of the Deacons at High Street. He was a member of Banner Grange in Vermont, a selectman and school board member for the Town of Georgia, Vt., served as an advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and also served as president of the P.T.A. in Georgia, Vt. “Don” enjoyed woodworking and doing special projects for his family and friends. He enjoyed working with leather and playing golf with friends, Slim and Arney. He was water “Dowser” all his life and located over 1000 places that provided active water wells. He is survived by three sons and their wives, Stephen and Mary Laplant of Pittsfield, Larry and Judy Laplant of Stetson, Richard and Carol Laplant of Cambridge; two daughters and their husbands, Brenda and Richard Pattee of Milton, Vt., Janet and Ronald Minor of St. Albans, Vt.; one brother, Douglas Laplant of Westerly, R.I.; 12 grandchildren; eight and almost nine great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He will also be remembered by a special friend, Jo Webster of Georgia, Vt. Friends may call 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Brown Funeral Home, 34 High St., Newport. Funeral services will be conducted next week at the Georgia Plaines, Vt. Baptist Church. To sign an online guest book and to leave written tributes please visit: www.philipbrownfuneralhome.com.
ELDON L. LAPLANT
