Bradford, Vt. — Clyde George Lea, 94, of Bradford slipped quietly into the presence of the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. At the time of his death he was a resident of Grafton County Nursing Home in North Haverhill, N.H. He and his wife Emily have been residents there since October 2011. He was born to the late Ora James Lea and Jenny Raymond Lea on Feb. 28, 1922, at their home on Summer Street in Bradford. Age and declining health over the latter years of his life were the cause of his death. His mind remained extraordinarily acute until the last few days of life.

On Aug. 20, 1950, he married Emily Cobb of Newbury, Vt. in the Newbury Congregational Church. Together they built a home on Summer St. on property Clyde purchased from the Low family in the early 1940’s bordering the home where he was born. They moved into their home in Dec. of 1954 where they lived until October of 2011. Clyde is survived by his wife Emily and three children, Cynthia (Lea) Sanborn of Plymouth, Minn., O.J. Lea of Hauppauge, L.I., N.Y. and Daniel K. Lea and wife, Linda L. Lea of Piermont, N.H. Also surviving him are several grandchildren; beloved brother-in-law, Hazen Spaulding, and sister-in-law, Josephine (Young) Lea; son-in-law, John Sanborn; and daughter-in-law, Angela (Christiansen) Lea.

Clyde was the last remaining member of his immediate family. He was predeceased by his father, Ora James (07/1951); brother Wesley (03/1961); mother, Jenny (01/1977); brother, Robert (07/1993); brother, Oliver (01/1995); brother, Raymond (10/2001) and sister, Dorothy (Lea) Spaulding (06/2008).

After graduating from Bradford Academy with the class of 1940 Clyde worked for Hayward Erwin on his farm, did a stint with the CCC and other odd jobs until enlisting in the United States Navy on Dec. 26, 1942. He was honorably discharged on March 8, 1946. While in the Navy he was on the U.S.S. Pickering, a destroyer that participated in a number of battles in the South Pacific which included the battle of Okinawa. Upon returning home from WWII he went to work for Whiting’s Creamery in Bradford. He was truly a “Jack of All Trades” with carpentry, welding, electrical, plumbing and refrigeration and machining skills. Upon learning Whiting’s local operations would move from Bradford to upper N.Y. State, Clyde went to work for New England Industries, Inc., in March of 1966 in Bradford. He retired from NEI, Inc. in April 1987 after the business had moved to its current location in Lebanon, N.H.

Clyde enjoyed the outdoors immensely. Many hours were spent trout fishing and hunting locally as well as Northeastern, Vt. and Northwestern, N.H. In Oct. 1968, he and Emily purchased a camp on Seymour Lake in Morgan, Vt. From then until June of 2004 they enjoyed time there together with family and friends. The camp remains in the family and has created many of the families fondest memories. Clyde also loved history, especially that of the northern New England states. He loved gardening, gathering wild vegetables and fruits, native song birds, raptors and water fowl and was well read on many of these. He loved and read much about U.S. history, especially that involving the local area and northern New England. Clyde treasured his family above all else in life. Their well-being and safety were always his foremost concern.

Interment will be in the spring of 2017 in the Veterans Cemetery located in Randolph, Vt.

The Hale Funeral Home and Cremation Care of Bradford is in charge of arrangements.

To view an online guestbook go to www.halefuneralhomes.com.