Sorry for the duplication, as I realize a lot of you belong to both list.....
Middlebury resident and MG enthusiast Frank Churchill dies in car accident
by JOHN FLOWERS 8-26-99
MIDDLEBURY - Middlebury police continue to investigate a Tuesday
afternoon, two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Lower Foote Street
and Cady Road which claimed the life of Frank Churchill, former co-owner
of the S.R. Churchill & Sons fuel business in Middlebury.
Police said a white 1953 MG convertible being driven by Churchill was
struck in the intersection by a minivan driven by Joan H. Collier, 69,
of Cornwall.
The collision, police said, caused the MG sports car to spin off the
road, crash through a fence, and come to a rest in the yard of a home at
the corner of Lower Foote Street and Cady Road.
Meanwhile, the minivan spun off the road and into a street sign and fire
hydrant at the corner of Lower Foote Street and Cady Road, breaking the
water line to the hydrant and flooding the corner lot, according to
police.
Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association officials responded to the
scene and took both Collier and Churchill to Porter Hospital. Police
said Churchill died from his injuries, while Collier was treated for her
injuries and released that day.
Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley said his department is busy
reconstructing the accident. There appear to have been no eyewitnesses
to the crash, Hanley noted.
"We want to make sure we have all our ducks in a row before we come out
with a cause," Hanley said.
Hanley said there is no indication that speed was a factor in the
accident.
While police sort out circumstances surrounding the crash, former
Churchill friends and co-workers were coming to grips with the loss of a
man they said was a great friend and good businessman.
"I had a lot of respect for his business sense, and I really appreciated
what he did for the community," Addison County Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director Linda Stearns said.
Stearns noted that Churchill was a participant in chamber affairs during
its formative years.
"He was a very well-respected person," Stearns said.
He and his brother Raymond carried on S.R. Churchill & Sons fuel
business after their father retired, when it was then known as Elliott
and Churchill's. They later sold the business to Johnson & Dick's in
1984, which in turn sold to MacIntyre Fuels in 1988, said Marion
Cartland, a longtime bookkeeper at Churchill's.
Cartland said Churchill was a Shriner, Mason and member of the Lion's
Club.
"He was very good to work for," Cartland said. "He was a friend."
Churchill and his brother Raymond also opened a self-storage facility on
Exchange Street in 1997 and had been operating that business for the
past two years.
Churchill was also a co-founder of the MG "T" Registry, a world-wide
association devoted to MGs built from 1945 to 1955. Churchill helped
found the association in 1965 and was its acting vice-chairman. The
association, according to a member, numbers about 4,000 members.
In addition to his interest in MGs, Churchill was also an avid pilot,
was a charter member of the Experimental Aircraft Association in
Shelburne, was active as a Freemason and was a 42-year member of the
Cario Temple of the Shriners of North America.
FRANK CHURCHILL
MIDDLEBURY- Frank Everts Churchill, 69, died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1999, at
Porter Medical Center as the result of injuries sustained in an
automobile accident.
Churchill was born in Middlebury on December 28, 1929, to Francis and
Mildred (Everts) Churchill. He attended schools in Middlebury and was a
Middlebury College graduate, class of 1952. He was co-owner of F.R.
Churchill & Sons Oil, Inc., until the mid-1980's.
He is survived by a brother, Raymond "Budge" Churchill and his wife
Teresa of Middlebury; a nephew, Kelly Churchill of Middlebury, and two
nieces, Leigh Churchill of Forestdale and Althya Holland.
Frank's love for sports cars was reflected in his membership in the
Sports Car Club of Vermont and, in 1964, he co-founded the New England
MG "T" Registry. He served as first editor of its publication and was
the present vice chairman.
Another interest of Churchill's was flying aircraft. He was a charter
member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter #613 in
Shelburne. Over the years, he made several charitable flights for
Middlebury's Porter Hospital.
Churchill's family was very active in the Freemasons of Vermont. He was
a 48-year member and presided over Union Lodge #2, F&AM in 1959; was
present chairman of the Lodge Board of Trustees; chairman of the
Middlebury Masonic Memorial Fund Trustees, and past president of the
Past Masters Association of the 3rd Masonic District of Vermont.
Churchill was also a member and past presiding officer of the following
York Rite Bodies of Middlebury: Potter Chapter #22, RAM; Middlebury
Council #14, R&SM; Mt. Calvary Commandary #1, KT.
He held membership in the following Masonic Honoraries: Vermont Priory
#45, Knights York Cross of Honor, Star of Bethlehem Conclave, Red Cross
of Constantine; and Green Mountain York Rite College #139.
Churchill was a 32 degree member of the Scottish Rite Valley of
Burlington bodies, including: Haswell Lodge of Perfection; Joseph W.
Roby Council; Harley M. Watkins Chapter; and Vermont Consistory.
He was also a 42-year, and very active, member of Cario Temple of the
Shriners of North American. He presided as Potentate in 1986 and is past
recorder of Cairo Temple. He was past president and past recorder of
Elbon Shine Club and a member of the Brattleboro Shrine Club, secretary
and past president of Cabin Chapter #18; secretary and past-Potentate
and past director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court #105.
He was also past president and member of the Shrine Maple Sugar Football
Games Board. For the Imperial Shrine of North America, he served in the
following capacities: Imperial Representative Colorsolo Corps; Imperial
Representative registration and the Athletic Committee; Imperial
Potentate Ambassador and Marshall staff; Emeritus member of the Board of
Governor's for Shiner's Hospital for Children.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 6-8 p.m. at the
Sanderson Funeral Chapel, 117 South Main St., Middlebury. Funeral
services will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Middlebury
Congregational Church.
Interment and Masonic services will follow at the Prospect Cemetery in
East Middlebury. Officiant will be Rev. David Andrews. Co-officiant will
be Rev. Catherine Nichols. Masonic services will be headed by Edward J.
Wilblood, Past Grand Master of Freemasons of Vermont, and Michael
Newton, Master of Union Lodge.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to: Shiner's
Hospitals for Children, c/o Cairo Temple Recorder, 51 Washington St.,
Rutland, Vt., 05701.
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