WILFERD BOYCE “HONEY” VACHON, SR., age 94 years, a resident of Hambleton, WV, departed this life Tuesday September 21, 2010 at his home. He had been in declining health.
He was born, Monday, August 28, 1916 in Hambleton, WV, a son of the late David Joseph Vachon and Susan Gagne Vachon. On June 9, 1940 at Thomas, WV, he was married to his high school sweetheart, the former Vivian Juanita Williams, who preceded him in death March 24, 2005. They had celebrated sixty four years of marriage.
Surviving are one son, Dr. Wilferd Boyce Vachon, Jr. and wife Ulli of Maine; one daughter, Dr. Linda Ann Vachon Marshall and husband Dr. Clifford Lowell Marshall and one grandson, Andrew S. Palmer Vachon Marshall, all of CA.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family having been preceded in death by seven brothers, Lessard “Lux”, Gilford “Jiggs”, Joe, Foster “Toot”, Frank, Leonard “Pat” and Ernest “Ernie” Vachon; and five sisters, Mildred “Millie” Strawn, Adele “Dell” Fortenberry, Sister Susanne Marie “Boon”, Lela Long and Louise Lutz.
He was a graduate of Parsons High School with the Class of 1934.
During WWII, he wanted to join the Army with his brother “Lux”, but was not allowed because of his ship building skills, which were necessary for the war effort. He was a blacksmith, welder and master ship builder. Bath Iron Works loaned him to the New England Ship Building Co. of South Portland, Maine, where he was the first of fifteen foremen, each supervising fifty to sixty men, who were responsible for launching at their peak, one Liberty Ship per day, totalling two hundred seventy four ships. At the time of his retirement, he was Superintendant of the Assembly Building. Honey was loved by his family and his many friends for his kind and generous nature. He love fishing, was an avid gardener and carried on a family tradition of violin making. He was an active member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at Parsons.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Friday from 5 to 8 PM. On Friday, at 7 PM at the funeral home a rosary will be recited by the Rev. Father Timothy Grassi. On Saturday morning September 25, 2010, Mr. Vachon will be moved to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church where a mass will be celebrated at 11 AM. The Rev. Father Timothy Grassi will preside and interment will follow at the St. George Cemetery at St. George, WV.
