Submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer

BENFIELD
In Honolulu, April 30th, after a most painful illness of ten days, Eric Lex, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Benfield, aged 16 months and 13 days.

The Friend Newspaper 1871-06-02

Submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer

Edwin E. Passmore
May 11, 1931 - July 28, 2008


Birth Place: Oahu, Hawaii
Resided In: Storrs / Mansfield, CT.
Visitation: Friday, August 1, 2008 Details
Services: Saturday, August 2, 2008 Details
Cemetery: None

  Edwin Eric Passmore, Colonel US Army (ret.), the beloved husband of Joyce (Cable) Passmore passed on peacefully at his home in Storrs on Monday July 28, 2008. Col. Passmore was born May 11, 1931 at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii to then Capt. George Hunter Passmore and Winifred Ida (Smith) Passmore. He earned his Eagle Scout rank while growing up in Storrs for which he was very proud and as an adult leader was awarded the Order of the Silver Beaver. He was graduated from St. John’s Military Academy and received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from which he was graduated in 1954 and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. He completed the Basic Infantry Officer Course, Airborne School, the Ranger Course and is a graduate of the US Army War College and Superior War College of Spain. He also commanded the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Ft Campbell, KY, the US Military Group, Asuncion, Paraguay, was the Defense Attaché at the American Embassy in Madrid, Spain and taught ROTC at UCONN. Col. Passmore’s career spanned 30 years including three tours in Viet Nam as an Infantry officer. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Stars (one for Valor), 4 Air Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Soldiers Medal of which he was most proud. He spent 16 years overseas including long tours in Germany, Belgium, Paraguay, and Spain. He received a M.S. degree from Shippensburg State College, PA. As with his grandfather E.O. Smith, Col Passmore was a leader in his community and a friend to all. He will be greatly missed. He was a member of the Eagleville Fire Dept. for 20 years, Lieutenant and Past Secretary of the Tri-County Fire Police, Past Master of Uriel Lodge # 24 AF & AM, Past President of the Mansfield Lions Club, and former Chairman of the Mansfield Republican Town Committee and served on the Mansfield Town Council for 11 years. He also served as a Justice of the Peace, was Sexton of the Storrs Cemetery Assoc., coordinated the Memorial Day Parade for 20 years, and taught computer internet at the Mansfield Senior Center. Edwin loved his family, the community and his gardens at “Kendall Green” his family home. In addition to his loving wife Joyce, he leaves a daughter Donna Kendall Passmore of West Virginia, two sons; Col. Edwin William Passmore currently serving in Argentina, and Robert Hunter (Jennifer Scanlon) Passmore of Coventry and new grandson Hunter William Passmore. He also leaves a brother Hunter (Barbara) Passmore, a sister Kendall Rhee, a stepdaughter Jodie (David) Barden, and a stepson Edward (Roberta) Recor, four nephews, and former wife Donna Ramsey Passmore of Alabama. Calling hours will be at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday August 1, 2008 and the Memorial Service will take place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 525 Hartford Tpke, RT 44 in Ashford on Saturday August 2, 2008 at 11:00 am. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be sent to the Masonic Charity Foundation, P.O. Box 768, Wallingford, CT 06492 or to the Lions Eye Research Fund, c/o Mansfield Lions, P.O. Box 543, Mansfield CT 06250. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.

Submitted by Nancy Washell

OBITUARY

The Friend Newspaper 1871-06-02

SMITH
On the 23rd of May, died in this city, Joseph Henry Smith, Esq. a much respected citizen and for more than a quarter of a century a most faithful and conscientious officer of the Hawaiian Government, having served under three of the Kamchamcha Dynasty. He was in the eightieth year of his age. He was a native of Islington, near London, England; and was educated, in part, at Oxford University, and has now a brother who is a clergyman of the Church of England, settled in London. Mr. Smith came to these islands from Tahiti in 1845, and after living for a few months at Hanalei, came to Honolulu, where he has since resided. for many years, he was a secretary and member of the Board of commissioners to Quiet Land Titles, and after that Board ceased to act, he was retained as one of the secreteries of the Interior Department and had charge of the Doom's Day Books, on which he had been working for so many years. His presence will be long remembered in that office. He was a stated bearer in the house of God, until the infirmities of age prevented him. He belonged to that class of reading and thoughtful christians, of which, alas, there are few. The works of Butler, author of the Analogy, Paley, John Newton, Henry and Scott, and writers of this class were his consent perusal. It was a real pleasure to converse with him upon religious topics, for with meekness and fear he was always ready to give an answer for the logical and reflective. He leaves a widow and a large family of children and grandchildren to revere his memory. His wife was a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Henry, one of the pioneer English Missionaries to the Society Islands.

Submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer