WESTFORD, VERMONT - The family of Arvin “Butch” Halliday is deeply saddened to announce his passing on September 27, 2026 at Maple Ridge Memory Care in Essex Junction, Vermont. He passed peacefully surrounded by his three children, loving wife, and future daughter-in-law.

Butch was born on November 6, 1954 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, the sixth and final child to Emery and Earla Halliday. In 1956, the family moved from Nova Scotia to Richford, Vermont where he resided on Troy Street until his graduation in 1972. After  graduation, Butch joined the U.S. Navy, where he served on the U.S.S Independence as a helicopter technician.

Upon his departure from the Navy, he began his long career with IBM starting in San Jose, California, and continuing in Tucson, Arizona until 1980, when he returned to his home state of Vermont. Butch continued his career at the Essex Junction IBM facility until 2006.

In 1981, while working at IBM, he met the love of his life Julie when he passed her in the hallway. For him it was love at first sight, Julie needed some convincing. Butch and Julie were married in a gazebo overlooking the ocean in Ogunquit, Maine on May 30th, 1998.

Butch had a life-long love of knowledge. Jeopardy nights and Trivial Pursuit games were the highlight of many family gatherings. He loved to spend time in the summer months at Camp on Lake George with family - boating, swimming, and playing ROUSING games of volleyball. His competitive spirit was well known by family and friends often seen during soccer games, broomball tournaments, rounds of golf, and fishing expeditions. Butch spent many Saturday nights across the road with his buddies enjoying a beer and shooting the breeze. He was funny, warm and fun with a knack for telling a good story or joke. He was a life-long fan of the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and the Montreal Canadiens. Butch danced his way through life, with an internal rhythm that could not be contained. He will be remembered for his quick wit, dry sarcasm, and million dollar smile.

Butch is survived by his beloved wife Julie (Provoncha) of Westford Vermont, and his three children, Christina (Tom) Adamczak of St. Albans, Matthew Halliday and his fiancee Sophie Lee of Winooski, and Bailey Halliday of Malden, MA. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nathan, Christian (Kat), and Grace (Taylor), sisters Muriel “Dodie” Savage of Hillsborough, New Jersey, Brenda and Paul Smith of Martinsburg, West Virginia, brothers-in-law Alan Buchanan of Colchester, Vermont, Fred (Holly) Provoncha

of Ticonderoga, Robert (Anne) Provoncha of Skelton, England, and John (Ann Dewyea) Provoncha of Essex Junction, Vermont, as well as a sister-in-law Kathy Halliday of Pulaski, Virginia. He leaves special several nieces and nephews who will greatly miss

their Uncle Butchie. He will also be sorely missed by his mother-in-law, Dorothy Provoncha of Ticonderoga,New York and Westford, Vermont. Butch’s beloved dog, Boone, will miss his nuzzles and walks together.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents Emery and Earla Halliday, a brother Larry, and sisters Jennie Buchanan and Roseanne Savage along with his brothers-in-law Allen and James Savage and his father-in-law Fred Provoncha, Jr. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Maple Ridge Memory Care for their unwavering care, kindness and love. We love knowing that his days were filled with laughter, music, and especially dancing. We would also like to thank Bayada Hospice for their compassionate care in Butch’s last days.

Visiting hours will be Friday, October 9, 2026 from 5-8 PM at the A.W. Rich funeral home in Essex Junction, Vermont. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 10th at The Barns at Lang Farm, Essex, Vermont beginning at 1 PM with Remembrances

beginning at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association (75 Talcott Rd., Suite 40 Williston, VT 05495.)