Donald Spaulding, 72, a longtime resident of the Mad River Valley, passed away in the comfort of his home on March 21, 2018. Don was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on March 20, 1946. The son of Maurice Spaulding Sr. and Irene (Patenaude) Spaulding, Don spent his childhood in Billerica, Massachusetts, and moved to Waitsfield, Vermont, in 1958 when his parents bought Valley Mead Farm (formerly the Jones Farm). He graduated Waitsfield High School in 1963. He married Laurie Farnham on September 22, 1973.
Don’s lifelong love of farming and the land started as a child in Massachusetts, when he accompanied his father to work on the Nathaniel Jones Farm in Billerica. He continued to operate Valley Mead Farm until his retirement in 2004 and was glad to see the land used by other area farmers following his retirement. He was a fixture in The Valley farming community for decades. Don was glad to share his blessings by employing a variety of young people and family members on the farm over the years. He and Laurie also opened their home to a variety of young people in need of a place to lay their heads.
Don was an auto enthusiast and enjoyed motorsports, especially in the days when his favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Sr., was still racing. In 1968, he participated in the Okemo Hill Climb. Don found enjoyment in discussing politics, history and religion. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing cards, going for long, fast drives, playing endless rounds of Words with Friends, as well as playing Wii Sports with his grandsons, which always brought a smile to his face. After retiring from farming, he took the opportunity to take a number of road trips: touring the United States, visiting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and circumnavigating Ireland.
Don is survived by Laurie, his wife of 44 years; his son, Jonathan Spaulding; daughter-in-law, Jodi Garofano Spaulding; grandsons, Maxwell and Calvin Spaulding; and daughter, Danielle Spaulding. He loved his large extended family including his in-laws, Art and Linda Hendrickson, and their children, Art Hendrickson and Kirsten Hendrickson Evans; his nephews, Michael, Todd and William Farnham, and niece, Michelle Farnham; his sister-in-law, Charlene Spaulding, and nephews, Maurice, Edward and Robert Spaulding; as well as numerous cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews. He is predeceased by his brother, Maurice Spaulding Jr., and a dear cousin, Jane Barrett Sylvain.
A celebration of Donald’s life will be held from Moretown United Methodist Church on March 31, 2018, at 11 a.m. Friends may call at Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on March 30, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m.
For those who wish, memorial gifts in lieu of flowers would be appreciated to Moretown United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 516, Moretown, VT 05660; the Washington County 4-H Foundation, c/o UVM Extension, 327 US Route 302, Suite 1, Barre, VT 05641; the Vermont Future Farmers Association Foundation, c/o Alan Curler, 4351 Crown Point Road, Bridport, VT 05734; or the Waitsfield- Fayston Volunteer Fire Department, 4144 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT 05673.
To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
