John was born March 25, 1934 to Edward Baldwin Farmer and Clara Martin Farmer in St. Johnsbury Vermont. A 1951 graduate of Newton High School in Massachusetts, John went on to MIT, where he studied Business and Engineering Administration and graduated in 1955. He was active in the Chi Phi fraternity.
On June 16, 1956 he married Judith G. Stock in Dover, New Hampshire. They went on to live a fulfilling life with their family in Wayland, MA, Stowe, VT and Atlantis, FL.
Following service in the U.S. Army, John was employed by General Electric in Schenectady, NY. He went on to join the family business, Farmer Electric in Natick Mass, as a VP and Sales Manager, and where he acquired several patents. Farmer Electric, a small industrial control company making photoelectric and timing devices was acquired by American Cyanamid in 1970. Subsequently, in 1971, the company merged with the Microswitch Division of Honeywell, where John was a General Manager.
John, a 7th generation Vermonter, then returned to his roots.
In 1975, John was appointed Vermont Commissioner of Economic Development by Governor Tom Salmon. The next 20 years he served in several capacities in Vermont government, including: Secretary of the Agency of Development and Community Affairs; and the Vermont Industrial Development Authority. John was elected to three terms in the Vermont House of Representatives and two terms in the Vermont State Senate from Lamoille County. He was elected by the legislature to the Vermont State College Board of Trustees, and appointed by Governor Howard Dean to the Vermont Environmental Board.
John was always involved in improving the communities in which he and Judy lived. John was a 50 year Rotarian, both in Natick, MA, where he served as a past president, and in Stowe, VT, where he received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, the highest honor the Rotary Club can bestow. He was also an active Trustee and Trustee Emeritus at the St. Johnsbury Academy.
John was happiest when he was boating, golfing and socializing with his close friends and family. During the 1980s, he and Judy enjoyed spending time in the Florida Keys. He enjoyed many weekends at the family camp overlooking Joes’s Pond in West Danville, VT. John and Judy also traveled the country on numerous adventures in their motor home.
John is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Judith, his two children and their spouses, Scott (Barbara) Farmer, and Tamara (Ross) Hathaway, and five grandchildren, Christopher Farmer (Emily), Visalia CA; Michael Farmer, Williston, VT; Fiona Farmer, Owings Mills, MD; John Hathaway (Natalie), Bellingham, WA; Kate Hathaway, Las Vegas, NV, and John’s many cousins and extended family and friends who have been so supportive throughout his illness.
The family wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to the wonderful and caring people who helped make John’s last several months comfortable in his home. They are all remarkable people.
There will be a small service and internment at the Riverbank Cemetery in Stowe, Vermont at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contributions in his name be made to: The Rotary Club of Stowe, Vermont at stowerotary.org OR: Because of his love of dogs, the North Country Animal League in Morrisville, VT at www.ncal.com
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