Robert Brent Whitcomb

BARRE TOWN - Robert Brent Whitcomb, 76, passed away peacefully at his home on West Cobble Hill Road on Monday, October 7, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson’s.

Born June 5, 1948, in the Barre City Hospital in Barre, he was the eldest child of Robert James and Pauline Ann (Perreault) Whitcomb. He grew up in East Barre and had a wonderful childhood there, making many lifelong friends and spending time with his many cousins.

Brent graduated from Spaulding High School in 1966. He attended the University of Vermont, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and the New England Institute with an associate degree in funeral service. He served in the National Guard for six years.

On January 25, 1969, he married Sandra Lee Baker in Mother Cabrini Church in East Barre. They were married for 55 years, and their partnership was a testament to enduring love and friendship. Together, they raised four children, instilling in them the values of hard work, loyalty, and compassion. To his children, Brent was more than a father - he was a mentor, a guide, and a friend. They will forever miss his wisdom and gentle spirit.

Brent and Sandy made their home in East Barre for most of their marriage, before moving to West Cobble Hill Road in 2017. They enjoyed traveling together - whether it was a trip to Italy, a tour of the national parks, a cruise to Alaska or a river cruise in Europe. Though Parkinson’s cut short his ability to travel, they had many happy memories together.

Brent dedicated 50 years to serving families with dignity and care at the Hooker Whitcomb Funeral Home. He had a gift for guiding families through their most difficult moments with tenderness and understanding. His gentle and sincere approach earned him the respect and gratitude of countless people over the decades.

Beyond his professional life, Brent was a man of the outdoors. An avid hunter, he found solace in the quiet of the woods, where he spent countless seasons hunting with his son, grandson Landon and friends. This also included scouting with his daughters, much to their dismay/dread, because they had to keep quiet during scouting. His deep appreciation for nature was reflected in the way he lived: grounded, thoughtful, and passionate. Brent was also a true sportsman, always ready with a story of the "one that got away," or a tale of a particularly thrilling hunt.

Brent was a member of St. Monica Parish, the Mutuo, Inc., the Canadian Club, the Elks Club and the Barre Rifle and Pistol Club.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra, his daughters Kimberly Whitcomb; Shelby (Whitcomb) Lindley and her husband, Sean; Jessica (Whitcomb) Ramirez and her husband,  Ruben and his son Nicholas Whitcomb; his six grandchildren who called him “Papa” Jordyn Binaghi, Zoey Binaghi, Aliza Lindley, Marshall Lindley, Landon Ramirez and Corbin Ramirez, his sister Hildred (Whitcomb) Guerin, and his brother Alan Whitcomb as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Never again will his family be asked if they checked all fluid levels in the car, if they are “in for the night” to check on their safety, if all windows and door locks have been triple checked and whether all hand-held or small appliances have been unplugged. They will greatly miss the candy stashes around the house and his endless supply of batteries when you needed them “just in case.” The refrigerator will no longer be alphabetized with appropriate rotation of expiration dates and there may be cross-contamination on his otherwise spotless gas grill. Life will not be the same without him. Various local bakeries and the Wayside were complicit in Brent’s lifelong love affair with donuts and will likely miss his patronage. Sadly, he never gained a pound from eating them.

The family would like to thank Dr. Deepak Gupta, Brent’s neurologist who assisted with his Parkinson’s journey, Dr. Anthony Williams his primary care physician, Nancy Farrell of Evergeen Elder Care who was his companion for the past year, Dr. Jonna Goulding with the CVMC Palliative Care Program, the staff on CVMC 2 South for their care of Brent this summer and the staff at Mayo Healthcare for the care Brent received this summer. Finally, the family would like to thank the staff at Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice for their excellent care of Brent and support of the family over the past two months.

The Mass of Christian Burial to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Monica Catholic Church, 79 Summer Street, Barre. A private graveside service for his family will be held after the service. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Central Vermont Home and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641-5369 or to the St. Monica Food Pantry c/o St. Monica Church, 79 Summer Street, Barre, VT 05641.