Roy Prior, 82, captain in Vermont State Police
January 26, 2022
LeRoy Erwin Prior of Mendon, Vt., died Jan. 26 at his home. He was 82.
The son of Lucy R. Hunt Prior and Erwin Wilson Prior, he was born in their home in West Bridgewater, Vt. Known as Roy, he graduated from Woodstock High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Castleton College in 1988 and then attended the FBI Academy Class 155.
Mr. Prior served for 27 years with the Vermont State Police and retired as a captain. Simultaneously, he spent 29 years with the Coast Guard Reserve Investigative Service. Career highlights include VSP polygraph training and supervisory role, scuba diving team, mountain rescue team and boating and snowmobile safety instructor. His VSP polygraph expertise led to his own private business, Prior Polygraph.
Mr. Prior worked for the U.S. Marshals Service for 10 years.
As a volunteer for the American Heart Association, he taught basic life support courses and served on the board. He served as town forest fire warden and assisted in initiating the Mendon baseball field.
He married Ellen Walukas Prior on Oct. 3, 1969, in Bennington, Vt.
A great father and mentor, he enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s football and softball games up and down the East Coast. He enjoyed teaching and became a YMCA-certified scuba instructor throughout Vermont.
His hobbies included family and friend camping trips, an Alaskan Highway motorcycle tour, great trips to Maine and other travels, lobstering, woodworking and deer hunting camp.
He was a member of the Mendon Fish & Game Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Fraternal Order of Elks, the Vermont Troopers Association and the American Legion.
In addition to his wife of 53 years, he is survived by his daughters, Janice Prior Olsen Wilhelm of Connecticut and Julie Prior of Vermont; his son, Matthew Prior of Pawleys Island; his sisters, Betty Prior Putnam and Doris Prior Dean of Vermont; his grandchildren, Jeremey Canneto (Melanie), Rocco Canneto, Harrison Prior Redkey and Hunter Prior; and his great granddaughters, Stella Rose Olsen and Faye Marie Canneto.
His brother, Allen Prior, and a grandson, Worth Olsen, died before him.
Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org or a charity of your choice.
A memorial and celebration of life will be held this spring.
There is a guest book at cabotfh.com.
