Malia Dean Honnold, 82, of Carthage passed Wednesday, July 9, 2014, surrounded by her family following a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). She was born May 5, 1932, in Burlington, Vt.., a daughter of Professor Leon and Hazel (Warden) Dean.
She was employed at the University of Vermont (UVM) from 1966-1993, initially as the Assistant to the Dean for Women and culminating as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid. During her tenure at the University, her greatest reward was the time spent directing the work-study program and helping students attain their life long goal of secondary education.
She graduated from Burlington High School, Salutatorian, in 1950. During high school she was the center forward for the 1948 and 1950 Vermont State Championship Basketball team, a member of the 1949 and 1950 All-State High School Marching Band and was the 1950 All New England Band Second Flutist her senior year. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont in 1954 and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, several honor societies, and was selected to the Mortar Board National College Honor Society. Following graduation, she lived and worked in Boston, Mass., for 12 years at Brown and Little Publishing Company. After retirement from UVM, she and her husband moved from Vermont to Indiana and enjoyed many happy years sharing in the lives of their grandchildren and breeding and showing Honnold Polled Dorset sheep. She was a faithful attendee of the Fletcher United Methodist Church in Carthage, and appreciated regular fellowship gatherings and the opportunity to serve in their community and homeless ministries.
In her youth, she enjoyed endless summers with her family at Dean Islands on Lake Champlain, Vt., served as a camp counselor, was an accomplished skier, and taught sailing on Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. Always up for a challenge, she resumed piano lessons at the young age of 70. She was an avid reader and lover of animals and nature, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with family, friends, and her husband, Bob.
Malia leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of nearly 38 years, Dr. Robert E. Honnold of Carthage; children, Debbie (Ron) Rausch of Carthage, Denise (Jeff) Phares of McCordsville, Darla (Jerry) Nowosatko of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Cary (Shelley) Honnold of Frederick, Md.; 11 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; sister, Lorna Brown of Vergennes, Vt; and cherished nieces and nephews from the Brown, Leary, and Rayle families.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Arloa Leary; and beloved nephew, Michael Leary.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2014, at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, 7355 South State Road 109 in Knightstown, with Reverend Roger Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in Walnut Ridge Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 – 7 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2014, at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ALS Association Indiana Chapter, 6525 E 82nd St #115, Indianapolis, IN 46250
(www.webin.alsa.org) or Rokeby Museum, 4334 Route 7, Ferrisburgh, VT 05456 (www.rokeby.org).
You may express a condolence or share a memory of Malia at www.hinsey-brown.com.
