Bruce Everette Johnson

It is with profound sadness, the family of Bruce Everett Johnson announces his passing on Sunday, February 16th at the age of 73. Bruce will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Katherine (Aplin), son-in-law Todd, grandson Jesse, sister Judith (Betty) and William, nieces Michaela and Anna; and numerous other family members and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Mildred (Petschke) and James Johnson, and wife, Betsey (Dunn).

Bruce was born and raised in Rhode Island, and grew up with a handful of neighborhood children that remained lifelong friends. They worked together at a dairy farm on their road, haying and milking, turning fields, and blasting around in their Willys “field Jeep” until it died, where it remains today with a mature tree growing out of the engine compartment. After high school he attended Roger Williams College, earning an associate's degree before going to work for East Greenwich Dairy as a delivery driver. If you knew anything about Bruce, you knew the “sell by” date on dairy was a mere suggestion in his household.

Bruce moved to Vermont in his mid-twenties after visiting friends, and worked for St. Johnsbury Trucking Co. while saving to buy his home. During this period, he met his wife, Betsey, fell in love, started a lovely life together in the woods, and they greeted their daughter, Katy, with excitement some years later. He changed career paths to the phone company a year after her birth to be home every night with his young family.

A friend to everyone, Bruce was gifted the ability to strike up a conversation with anyone and find a connection; a handy skill during his 14 years in a part-time “retirement job” welcoming tourists at the Vermont Welcome Center in Guilford. He was also known by locals as “the smiling, handsome phone man” as an installer for the phone company for 26 years as it evolved from New England Telephone to Verizon. He knew the best shortcuts, the best sandwich shops, every swimming hole, and most of the locals (and celebrities) in Windham County.

Bruce will be remembered for his adventurous travel spirit, his ability to put away food like no other, a voracious appetite for nonfiction history books (still working on the Pony Express even in his last days), tinkering on home projects large and small, and by his melodious whistling. He loved to spend time with friends & family, on a horse or a motorcycle, frollicking through the woods on a mountain bike or on cross-country skis, cruising the roads in an antique car, or kayaking parallel to some remote beach. Each trip was never a race, but Bruce always won. His brilliant life, punctuated by hilarious and endearing stories, will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved him.

A private burial and service was held on March 8th in Rhode Island, where he was laid to rest beside his wife and her family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 29th at the Dover Town Hall, on the corner of Holland and Taft Brook roads, by the library, at 2 p.m. This event will be a potluck, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. The structure will be informal, and all are welcomed to share their favorite stories.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bruce’s name may be made to the Dover Free Library, Brooks Memorial Library, or your local library.”