Kenneth Skidmore, a 66-year resident of Granger Hollow in Shaftsbury, died Monday, October 11 at the home of his daughter, Kendy. He was 95.

Born July 31, 1926 in Sandgate to Charles and Lydia (Granger) Skidmore, Ken was the youngest of 11 children. As a 5th generation resident of Sandgate, he had many stories of the people, places and growing up there.

Ken was a World War II veteran, entering the U.S. Army in 1944. He was part of the 78th Infantry Division, maintaining a secure Berlin at the end of the war and later joined the Military Police. He always said he traveled enough during the service and, for the rest of his life, was content to stay in Vermont. He was an honorary lifetime member of the American Legion Post 13.

Ken met Mary Sargood at a skating pond in East Arlington in early 1944; they were married in 1948. She was the one and only love of his life. After living in Sandgate, Hebron, NY and Arlington they settled on a farm in Granger Hollow in 1955. While raising his family, and in addition to farming, Ken had many second jobs at Hale Co., Eagle Square Mfg., delivering coal for Joe Nadeau, gas for Rich Dwyer and as a security guard at Stanley Tools. In 1967 he was hired as a bus driver for the new MAU school district and for the next 39 years he carried countless children to school from throughout Bennington and Shaftsbury. Amazingly, he remembered most of them years later.

He retired at the age of 79 to care for his wife, devoting himself to making sure she was cared for and ensuring she could stay at home until her death in 2013. Always one to stop for coffee, he spent the next four years developing friendships at Jean’s Place, Benson’s and Snow’s Dairy Bar until he abruptly lost his sight in 2017. However, his daughters made sure he continued to go out for lunch and visit his friends until shortly before his death.

Ken is survived by his son, Gary Skidmore, and his daughters Linda (Dale Campbell), Kathy (Noel Cardiff), Kendy (Anthony Sausville) and his stepdaughter Gayle Adams, along with 18 grandchildren and many more great and great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Ken’s neighbors, the Washburns and the Farrarras, and his friends, John Roberts, Dick Hawks and Jim Devine for looking out for him and continuing to visit.

A dutiful son, a dedicated employee, a devoted husband, a beloved father and the toughest man we knew, Ken left his legacy in his children, those he met and lives he touched along the way.

The funeral will be held from the Mahar and Son Funeral Home on Friday October 15, at 2pm.

The burial will follow at the family lot at Center Shaftsbury Cemetery in Shaftsbury.

Friends may call at the Mahar and Son Funeral Home on Thursday October 14, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

If friends desire contributions in memory of Kenneth Skidmore may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital or Shaftsbury Elementary School through the office of the Mahar and Son Funeral Home 628 Main St. Bennington, VT 05201. Guest book condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net