R. Sherwood Hamilton

MIDDLESEX — R. Sherwood Hamilton Jr., 87, a longtime proprietor of the Middlesex Country Store, passed away in the comfort of his family at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Monday evening, May 14, 2012. Born in Caldwell, N.J., on Nov. 17, 1924, he was the son of the late Raymond Sherwood Hamilton Sr. and Margaret (Conover) Hamilton. On Aug. 31, 1952, he married the former Nancy Jones in Manasquan, N.J. Nancy predeceased Sherwood on July 1, 1982.

Sherwood was a 1942 graduate of Grover Cleveland High School and then joined the U.S. Army where he served with the 10th Mountain Division. Following his discharge, Sherwood began work with H.A. Astlett and Co. Inc., a rubber import-export business. Wanting to continue his education, Sherwood attended night school at Pace University in New York City over a span of nine years while working full time and raising his family. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and went on to a 35-year career with H.A. Astlett and Co. Inc., retiring as comptroller in 1981. Looking for a change of venue and career, Sherwood read an advertisement in The New York Times for a country store for sale in Middlesex. He and Nancy purchased the Middlesex Country Store on Oct. 1, 1981, and has been the proprietor since.

Sherwood attended the Bethany Church in Montpelier where he enjoyed singing in the choir and was a member of the hand bell choir. More recently he has been a regular member of the Middlesex United Methodist Church. For many years he has been a supporter of both Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. In his leisure time he enjoyed woodworking, bird-watching and was an avid golfer. His family fondly remembers Sherwood for his love and dedication to his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as the joy he experienced socializing with the many patrons of his store.

Sherwood is survived by his children, Ann LeFevre and her husband, Jeffrey, of East Stroudsburg, Pa., Diana Fusco and her husband, Bob, of East Montpelier, and Sara Cingale and her husband, Stephen, of North Haledon, N.J.; his five grandchildren, Sara Howard, of Middlesex, Abby Fusco, of East Montpelier, Anna Cingale, of North Haledon, N.J., Erick LeFevre, of Batavia, N.Y., and Christopher LeFevre, of Tecumseh, Mich.; five great-grandchildren, Connor Howard, Leigh LeFevre, Samuel Sherwood LeFevre, Lucy LeFevre and Isaac LeFevre; three sisters, Peg Watkins, of West Caldwell, N.J., Betty DeRenzis, of Raleigh, N.C., and Jane Ridley and her husband, Art, of Milford, Pa.; a brother, John Hamilton, and his wife, Joan, of West Caldwell, N.J.; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.

Memorial services will be held from the Middlesex United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at noon with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Friends may call at the church on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Inurnment with military honors will take place in the Middlesex Center Cemetery. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Middlesex United Church, PO Box 561, Moretown, VT 05660. To send online condolences please visit us at www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.