WELD – Hiram B. Vining, 86, of Weld, died early Sunday, May 4, at his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born July 9, 1921, in Weld at the family homestead at the foot of Mt. Blue, the son of Bertram Guy and Violet Whitney Vining. He attended Weld schools and worked in the woods with his brother, Jesse “Pug,” logging, drove a log truck for Steve Getchell, built several camps on Lake Webb in Weld with his father and worked in the Wilton Woolen Mill.

He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942, and served in the Pacific Theatre, until his honorable discharge in 1946. He married June A. Winter on Dec. 7, 1946.

He played baseball and learned to play his beloved game of chess from Howard Conant and later taught many others to play, including his father-in-law. He loved to hunt partridge and had several Brittany Spaniels as hunting dogs. He also loved to fish and tied many of his own flies.

He worked for Raymond Frank at the Squares, Inc. Mill in Weld, which he bought in 1953. He later owned and operated the Pine Knot, making colonial reproductions for 20 years. He was a member of the Wilton Chess Club and played Bobby Fischer. He drove the school bus to Dixfield for the high school students attending there from Weld and later drove for SAD 9. He drove the bus for 10 years after selling the Pine Knot.

He built a home across the street and had a woodworking shop in the back of the garage, where he made furniture, lawn chairs and novelty items, which he sold to passers-by and summer residents from the attached garage from April to November. He was a member of the Weld Historical Society and the Weld American Legion.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, June of Weld; daughter, Martha and companion, Claude, of Readfield; sons, Stephen of Weld and Kenneth Hiram of Farmington; brother, Bernard and his wife, Jane, of Weld; five grandchildren, Kristina and husband, Mark, Shayne and wife, Jennifer, and Joshua, Luke and Michel; and four great-grandchildren, Molly, Devin, Brody and Mya.

He was predeceased by three brothers, Jesse “Pug”, Quentin and Douglas; and two sisters, Shirley and Lenora.