RANDOLPH, VT — Sumner S. Small, 92, of Randolph, died Friday afternoon, September 18, 2020 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.
He was born July 14, 1928 in Hartland, VT; the son of Ernest & Gertrude (Shepard) Small. He served in the US Army during the Korean War, and was married to Eleanor Manning Mitchell in 1953. He moved to Randolph after his military service at worked at Mitchell’s Tydol Station, the canning factory, Randolph Lumber and the Withmore Feed Store. He began diary farming in 1959, and bought the farm in South Randolph, retiring in 1980 due to health problems. Sumner volunteered at Gifford Medical Center, folded flags for Veteran Military honors, and was a member of the Randolph VFW and American Legion. In the Spring he would help put flags on Veterans graves in Randolph, and took them down in the fall for many years. He found companionship with Dorothy Backus for 30+ years.
Survivors include his daughter Dale Williams; sons Steven and Scott Small; stepchildren Lawrence Mitchell, Gilbert Mitchell, Russell Mitchell, Diana Whalen and Paula Mitchell; 29 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his eleven siblings.
Graveside Memorial Services and Military honors will be held at 2:00pm Thursday, Sept. 24th at Pleasant View Cemetery in Randolph, with Rev. Roger Wotton officiating. Mask wearing and social distancing are requested. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association and the Wounded Warrior Project. Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com. Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home.