OBITUARIES

Everett C. Wilcox

Everett C. Wilcox, 89, chairman of the board of the Leonard Valve Co., passed away on Dec. 15. He joined the company in 1938, acting as salesman, assistant sales manager and member of the board of directors. He was elected president of Leonard Valve Co. in Cranston in 1955 and remained in that position until 1991 when he was appointed chairman.

In 1973, Wilcox was elected president of the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute, then known as the Plumbing Brass Institute. He served as treasurer and then chairman of the board of the Metal Trades Association of Rhode Island for a number of terms. Donations may be made in his memory to the Everett C. Wilcox Family Health Center, c/o CCAP, 311 Doric Ave., Cranston, RI 02910.

William Oliver “Bill” Brown Sr.

William Oliver “Bill” Brown Sr., 95, died Nov. 27, 2006, at Trinity Health Care Center. His business career started as an afterschool job with Crane Co. while attending college. In 1958, he left Crane as vice president of sales and marketing and joined the Beneke Corp., now Sanderson Plumbing. He retired in 1976 as vice president of sales and marketing. In October 1976, he was one of the first inductees into the Hall of Fame for the plumbing, heating and air conditioning industry. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 318 College St., Columbus, MS 39701.

Patty Dusty

Patty Dusty, 46, passed away on Jan. 3, 2007, after a four-year battle with cancer. She was an inside salesperson at Standard of New England in Portsmouth, NH, a wholesaler of plumbing fittings and supplies. Her co-workers described her as “one of the most knowledgeable” inside salespeople and “ever optimistic.”

Sgt. Chad J. Vollmer

Sgt. Chad J. Vollmer, 24, of Grand Rapids, MI, died Dec. 23, 2006, while serving in Iraq as part of the U.S. Army National Guard E. Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry, also known as the “Hooligans.” This was his second tour of duty outside of the United States. He was the son of Electro Chemical Finishing (ECF) president and longtime Plumbing Manufacturers Institute member Terry Vollmer and his wife, Sandi. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Fallen Soldiers Fund.

Herbert J. Miller

Herbert J. Miller, 70, owner, president and CEO of Roto Hammer Industries, died of cancer Dec. 18, 2006. He purchased Roto Hammer in 1989 and continued to manage the company through his cancer treatments. The company manufactures and distributes actuators and accessories for manually operated valves. Memorials may be sent to Temple Israel, The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art or Zarrow Manor.