SANIBEL ISLAND, FL — Leonard F. Spaulding Jr., “Joe”, passed away on Tuesday June 16, 2020 at Health Park Medical Center, Fort Myers, Fl. After suffering a heart attack. He’d been enduring the battle of his life with cancer as well.
Joe was born August 1, 1946, the son of Leonard F. Spaulding Sr. & Elizabeth Howe Spaulding, He grew up in Wilder, VT & graduated from Hartford High School in the Class of 1964, and from Vermont Technical College with a degree in electrical engineering in 1966. After graduating from college he was enlisted in the VT Army National Guard and spent time at Fort Drum and in Oklahoma.
He was married to Linda Crawford in October 1965 celebrating their 54th anniversary last October. They first lived in Wilder for a short time then moving to Burlington VT where he worked for IBM.
In 1967, he & Linda took over the business of Voice & Vision and then The Furniture Store in West Lebanon, NH. He also worked at Cellular One in West Lebanon, and the VT Furniture Gallery in Burlington.
In 1993 Joe & Linda moved to Sanibel Island, FL and lived in their ‘little bit of heaven’ for the last 27 years. During those years Joe worked for Sanctuary Golf Course on Sanibel Island, then at The Sanibel Surf Shop and Caloosa Wholesale.
Joe loved to golf and was a past member of the Woodstock Country Club in VT. Rounding up players for a game of bocce ball at the beach, even though sometimes balls got lost in the Gulf of Mexico! Mostly he loved his family & friends!
He is survived by his wife Linda Crawford Spaulding and his son Matthew Crawford Spaulding as well as his siblings. His sisters Patricia Spaulding Derrick (David), Mary Lou Spaulding DeFelice (Alex), Jane Spaulding Ammel and his brother Bill Spaulding (Cathy). Also sister-in-law Jean Spaulding Kjellman and brother-in-law Chip Crawford. He had several nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly as they loved him!
He was predeceased by his parents, Len & Tish Spaulding and his brother Jim Spaulding.
A private graveside service will be held in West Lebanon, NH at the convenience of the family.
Contributions can be made to James F. Spaulding Memorial Scholarship, %Patricia Derrick,
33 Ravenswood Terrace, White River Jct., VT 05001, The American Cancer Assoc., or the American Heart Association.
An online guestbook is available to leave Joe’s family a message of condolence by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com