Patricia W. Belding

BARRE CITY - Patricia W. “Pat” Belding, 87, of Barre, died peacefully at her longtime home of 8 Delmont Avenue in Barre on March 9, 2018.

Born in Arlington, Mass., on August 19, 1930, Pat was the daughter of Hollis J. and Ruth S. Wyman. Raised in Auburndale, Mass., she graduated from Newton High School in 1948 and from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1953. In October of that year, she married classmate John C. “Jack” Belding.

In 1957, the Beldings moved to Rutland, Vermont, where Jack began his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They moved to Barre in 1963.

Pat worked at the Aldrich Public Library from 1967 to 1993, serving under 5 librarians. After retiring, she published four books on the history of Barre and Vermont, with photos by Jack. They had collaborated on several articles in Vermont Life magazine in the 1970s.

She had been a member of the Poetry Society of Vermont since 1965, serving as president and membership chairman.

Her interests, besides history, included mountain climbing in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire. She also had a lifelong interest in the life and works of Emily Dickinson.

She leaves a daughter, Janet W. Belding of Sandwich, Mass., and her partner Melinda Smallwood, and their two children Peter and Alexandra (“Allie”) Belding, both adopted from Kazakhstan in 2005; also, a son, Russell J. Belding and his wife Lori (MacFarlane) of Barre. She also leaves a sister, Nancy Spraragen of Oakland, California, and a brother, David Wyman of Amherst, Mass., as well as several nieces and nephews. A brother, Hollis J. Wyman, Jr., predeceased her in 1968.

There are no calling hours. A graveside Celebration of Life service will be held at Elmwood Cemetery at a date to be announced in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington Street. Barre, VT 05641.