Obituary

John L. Tibbetts Sr.

Fri, 12/26/2014 - 3:00pm

John Lawrence Tibbetts Sr., 99, husband of the late Shirley (Johnson) Tibbetts, died peacefully on Dec. 16 at home in Burlington, Connecticut.

He was born March 26, 1915 in Boothbay Harbor, son of the late Lawrence J. Tibbetts and Jennie (Enos) Tibbetts Wescott and had resided in Burlington for over 70 years.

He retired from the state of Connecticut Department of Fish and Game at the Burlington Fish Hatchery.

He was a United States Army veteran of World War II having served in the European Theatre of Operations.

He was very active as a volunteer in the community. He was a founder of the ambulance service and he ran the weekly bingo for many years. He was actively involved in the strawberry festival and the carnival. He was a member of the Burlington Fire and Ambulance, a member of the Burlington Congregational Church, Burlington Senior Citizens, a lifetime member of Seaside Lodge 144 AF&AM in Boothbay Harbor, American Legion Albert Johnson Post 90, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Farmington Valley Men’s Club.

He and his wife of 64 years enjoyed square dancing and polkas. He also enjoyed going to antique car shows.

He is survived by his loving son and caregiver John L. Tibbetts Jr., with whom he made his home; three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Richard Winebrenner of Angola, Indiana, Donna and Charles Hammond of Canton, Connecticut, and Marcia and Arthur Scheidel of Burlington, Connecticut; seven grandchildren, Scott Winebrenner, Sheila Powers, Tina Ryan, Charles Hammond III, Brian Hammond, Melissa Collins and Arthur Scheidel Jr.; nine great grandchildren, Michael Winebrenner, Kayla Ryan and Charles IV, Olivia, Cole, Tanner and Caleb Hammond and Sean and Austin Collins; and two great-great grandchildren, Noah and Cadence Jones.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his stepfather, Joseph Wescott Sr., his brothers, Gilbert and Waldo Tibbetts, Joseph Wescott Jr.; his sister, Constance Pitcher and his great-grandson, Timothy Winebrenner. Visitation and services were held at the Burlington Congregational Church on Dec. 20. Burial with full military honors will be in the family plot in Center Cemetery, Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Burlington Congregational Church, Route 4, Burlington, CT 06013 or to the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance, P.O. Box 1285, Burlington, CT 06013.