Obituary: Kenneth Ernest Nolan
June 26, 1939 - November 17, 2021
Update: May 1, 2022
A graveside celebration of life for Kenneth E. Nolan will be held Saturday, May 7, at 11 a.m. at the Brookhaven Cemetery in Orange, Vermont, with Rev. Sam Newton officiating. The Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home, Chelsea, Vermont is in charge of arrangements.
Ken Nolan. Courtesy photo
ORANGE, Vt. – Kenneth Ernest Nolan, 82, died Wednesday, November 17, 2021, while on a hunting trip at his grandson’s farm in Panton, Vermont.
He was born June 26, 1939 in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Edward and Eileen (Sturtevant) Nolan. He grew up in Granby, Connecticut, where he attended school.
In September 1961, he married Ruth Jones of Unionville, Connecticut. In 1968 they moved to Vermont and lived many years in the town of Washington. Together they had three children, Bryan, Timothy, and Kelly. Ruth and Ken were later divorced in 1987.
On August 19, 1989, Ken married Shirley Blake Sample of Williamstown. Shirley brought into their marriage her two children, Cathy and Eric Sample, who Ken raised as his own. Ken and Shirley lived a year in Washington before moving to the town of Orange where they lived for 31 years.
Ken worked at Vermont Petroleum-Agway, Bond Auto for 35 years, and most recently Fisher Auto Parts. He was very involved with Little League Baseball and helping kids with pine wood derby cars for many years.
He enjoyed hunting, playing cribbage, fishing, reading, going to hunting camp, 4-wheeling and camping. He loved to dance and spend time with his family. Ken was a very loving man with a big heart, who never complained!
He is survived by his wife Shirley Nolan of Orange; a son, Bryan Nolan and his wife Peggy Nolan of Panton; a daughter Kelly Nolan Lyford and her husband Alan Lyford of Chelsea; a step-daughter Cathy Sample of Chelsea; stepson Eric Sample of Websterville; and a daughter-in-law Tracy Nolan of Chelsea; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; a brother Roger Nolan of Connecticut and a brother-in-law Roger Hayes.
He was predeceased by his son Timothy Nolan on July 29, 2021 and two sisters, Lorraine Patlock and Frieda Hayes.
Calling hours will be held Tuesday, November 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a time of remembrance at 7 p.m. at the Boardway and Cilley Funeral Home, 300 Vermont Route 110, Chelsea. A graveside memorial service will be held next spring at the Brook Haven Cemetery in Orange, Vermont with Rev. Sam Newton officiating, followed by a fellowship gathering.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Orange Central School, Ken Nolan Sports Fund, 357 US. Rt. 302, East Barre, VT 05649.
Arrangements by the Boardway and Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea, Vermont. Online and private messages of sympathy may be shared with the family at boardwayandcilley.com.