Obituary:

MIDDLEBURY / BURLINGTON - Homer H. Stuart, formerly of Burlington, died peacefully on July 23, 2011, in his home at The Lodge at Otter Creek in Middlebury, at the age of 93.

He was born in St. Johnsbury on May 6, 1918, the son of Homer H. and Eugenia Scott Stuart.

Homer graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1936, Mercersburg Academy in 1937 and Williams College in 1941 with a BA degree in Political Science. He was a Member of the Psi U Fraternity and the Naval Reserve Midshipman School "Prairie State" in New York City, N.Y. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. While waiting to be called into service, Stu joined the Grace Steamship Line and made four trips to South America. He served in the US Navy for 4 1/2 years during WWII, first in the Atlantic on a heavy cruiser, the Wichita, and then in the Pacific on four different Destroyer Escorts. On April 21, 1945, he married Mary Dean McLellan of St. Johnsbury. This spring they celebrated their 66th Anniversary. In 1950 he joined the Hickok and Boardman Insurance Agency in Burlington. He retired in 1978. Stu was an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Burlington for 25 years. He headed the Community Chest Drive and drove for Meals on Wheels. He was an avid sailor, belonging to Mallets Bay Boat Club and the LCYC. Stu was an enthusiast cyclist averaging over 500 miles a summer - even into his late eighties. He enjoyed history and studied French and became fluent in that language. Stu and Mary traveled extensively. When Stu retired, they resided six months in Sarasota, Fla. and six months in Burlington. Homer was a wonderful son, husband and father. He was a very sweet and gentle man, adored by his wife and children.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; his daughter, Genie Christiansen and her husband, Niel, of Essex; his son, Robert Stuart and his wife, Mary, of Milton; his daughter, Katie Barrett and her husband, Roy, of Salmon, ID; three grandchildren, Andrew Christiansen, Molly Stuart Goldstein and Ian Stuart; and by two great-grand- children, Miley Stuart and Boede Christiansen.


A memorial service will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Middlebury at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2011.


Published in The Burlington Free Press on July 26, 2011