Johnsonville – Roland W. Bugbee, born October 22, 1938, died April 30, 2022, surrounded by loving family at his beloved farm. He was the son of Phyllis and Perry Bugbee. His earliest cherished memories are of working in the fields with his Dad and going to farm auctions with him.
Roland and Janet Pine married September 1, 1957. Roland built the house in White Creek farm where they started their family of 8 children. They moved to the farm in Johnsonville where he farmed, milked cows, sold wood stoves and opened a Lawn and Garden shop in 1974. In 1986 he opened a new Lawn and Garden on Route 67. He was in the National Guard from 1956 to 1965. He was a Mason and Shriner and enjoyed hunting. In 1993 he worked with the crew that sided First Baptist Church, Hoosick. In 1994 he moved to San Diego, CA and worked at the True Value Store in La Jolla. He adjusted pretty well to big city life but missed his family and farming so he returned to Bennington. Roland and Vickie Kennedy married August 19, 1995. They converted the Lawn and Garden shop into a community minded Bugbee’s Country Store which he operated until his retirement in 2004. He then sold the store to the great-grand son of the original owners. He is predeceased by his parents, brother Dick (Roberta), sister Flora Jean, grandson Christopher Roland, daughter-in-law Theresa, and son-in-law Donald Clairmont. He is survived by his wife of 27 years Vickie, 2 daughters – Sharon Clairmont (Ron), and Cindy Mattison (Mike), 6 sons – Larry (Kathy), Kenny (Rita), Ronald (Kimberly), John, George, Donald (Trista), their Mother Janet, 20 Grandchildren ages 19 to 42, and 14 Great-Grandchildren ages 1 month to 20 years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, made payable to Ladies Oriental Shrine-Airoc Court #42 c/o Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, PO Box 957, Bennington, VT 05201. To send personal condolences, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
