Richard A. Birt

Richard A. Birt, 65, of Lunenburg, Vermont died peacefully on January 8, 2014 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Richard was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania on March 24, 1948 a son of George B. Birt Sr. and Dorothy E. (Kehrer) Birt.  He lived in Ohio in his early years and then he and his family moved to Connecticut.  He graduated from Darien High School in Connecticut in 1966.  Richard attended college in Boston, Massachusetts where he studied Marine Biology for one year.  Richard was drawn to the sea and had a passion for boating.  He spent as much time as possible out on Long Island Sound.  He worked for Bloom Brothers Oyster Company in Norwalk, Connecticut as an oyster fisherman.  Richard served in the United States Coast Guard from 1968 to 1972 during the Vietnam War.  He met Christine while he was in the Coast Guard and they were married on August 19, 1972.  He worked as a lobsterman, a carpenter and a diesel mechanic while they lived in Connecticut.  Richard and his wife Christine moved to Vermont in May of 1982.  They purchased an old dairy farm that had not been in operation since the 1960's.  Richard worked as a diesel mechanic for Boydston Ford Tractor in Lancaster for almost two years.  Then he and his wife renovated the dairy farm, purchased Jersey cows and started shipping milk.  They named their farm Misty Valley Farm.  In April of 2004 lightning cased a fire and they lost their cows, barns and other buildings.  They weren't able to get back into dairy farming.  Instead they focused on growing and selling hay to other farmers and selling sweet corn, pumpkins and apples from their farm stand.

Richard enjoyed farming and working in the woodlot.  His other interests included various outdoor activities - snowmobiling, four wheeling, skiing and fishing.  He was an avid reader.  Spending time with his family was of the utmost importance to him.  Richard was an exceptionally wonderful father, grandfather and loving husband.

He is survived by his wife, Christine of 41 years; his son, David J. Birt and wife Megan and their son Jaxon (grandson); his son Justin M. Birt and fiancée Bree L. Campbell; his brother George B. Birt Jr. of Dayton, Ohio; his sister Diane E. Lis and husband Frank of Southbury, CT; his brother-in-law Andrew E. Bialous and wife Lisa of Mapleville RI; his sister-in-law Hedy Grkovich and husband Dan of Buffalo Grove Illinois; and his sister-in-law Ann M. Rominger and partner Dennis Woodward of Bristol, NH as well as several nieces and nephews.

Richard was predeceased by his father George B. Birt Sr. and his mother Dorothy E. Birt.  He was also predeceased by his brother-in-law Walter G. Bialous and Walter's wife Patrice of Elizabeth City, NC.

There are no visiting hours.  A memorial service will be held at the Christ United Methodist Church in Lancaster, on Friday, January 17

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at 11:00 AM.  Reverend Richard Boyden, pastor, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Alden Balch Memorial Library, 24 East Maine Street, Lunenburg, VT 05906.