Obituary: Richard John Aylward
July 3, 1940 - May 13, 2021
Richard John Aylward
Duxbury/Waterbury, Vt. – Richard John Aylward passed away on Thursday, May 13, 2021, in the comfort of his home and with family beside him. Richard was 80 years old and passed away due to a long illness of esophageal cancer.
Born on July 3, 1940 in Burlington, Vermont, he was the son of the late Milton Aylward and Evelyne (Griffiths) Aylward. On July 8, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy J. Eastman.
Richard was a 1959 graduate of Mount Assumption Institute, Plattsburgh, New York, and the Franklin School of Science & Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a young man, Richard worked for his parents at the Aylward Nursing Home in Colbyville, Vermont. By the sixth grade, he made the transition from Waterbury High School to Mount Assumption Institute in Plattsburgh. After graduating from MAI, he proceeded on with his education at The Franklin School of Science and Arts in Philadelphia, graduating with a degree in radiology. From there he went into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for three years as a medic. During this time, he married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Nancy J. Eastman on July 8, 1961.
After arriving back in Vermont, he purchased The Aylward Nursing Home in Colbyville from his parents. This would begin his life as an entrepreneur and craftsman. In 1970, he assisted in building his home and constructing Crossroads Discount Beverage in Waterbury. He owned and operated Crystal Ice Company in St. Albans and the Georgia Pallet Mill in Georgia, Vermont. Later in life, he continued his career at Bolton Valley Resort, in Bolton, Vermont, where he was employed as the head of maintenance for 15 years.
Richard also volunteered for the Waterbury Ambulance Service and served as its president, 1970-1980. He also was an active member of the Waterbury Rotary Club, the Knights of Columbus, and he volunteered for the Golden Gloves. He also enjoyed spending leisure time with his family, reading, gardening, working on his bulldozer, tinkering on his cars, refereeing at the Golden Gloves, hunting, camping, fishing, snowmobiling, building, and watching the Boston Bruins. He was always willing to volunteer in a project where he saw necessary.
Richard is loved and mourned by his siblings, Mary (Aylward) Johnson, Peter Aylward and Robert Aylward. He is survived by his children, Kimberly Aylward Jones and her husband, Todd; Darrin Aylward, Toby Aylward and Katie Aylward; 10 grandchildren, Kasey Jones, Garrett Jones, Michaela Lord, Megan Wells, Ridley Tessier, Aleena Tessier, Haley Aylward, Briana Aylward, Corey Aylward and Cassandra (Aylward) Winters; and seven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews; and extended family including two special cousins, Nancy Cobb and Fred Fletcher.
Richard was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Nancy J. (Eastman) Aylward, his son Todd R. Aylward, and two great-grandchildren, Jackson and Jasper Winters.
As it was Richard’s request, services will be privately held.
For those who wish, memorial gifts would be appreciated to Waterbury Ambulance Service Inc., 1727 Guptil Road, Waterbury, VT 05676; or Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.
Arrangements by Perkins-Parker Funeral Home where online condolences may be made.