RUTLAND, VT. — Walter R. Varnum, 85, formerly a longtime resident of Hopkinton, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, in Rutland, Vt.

He was the husband of Marion (Adams) Varnum, who died in 1996.

He had moved to Castleton, Vt., after retiring from his business as a building contractor in the Hopkinton area. He and his late wife moved to Vermont, where he had lived for the past 20 years.

He leaves his son, Raymond, and his wife, Pamela; a granddaughter, Devon Austin and her husband, Jay, and their son, Matthew, all of Castleton, Vt.; one daughter, Wendy Bartlett and her husband, Richard, of Hopkinton; three sisters, Jean Donovan of Beverly, Lorraine Hunt of Tilton, N.H., and Marilyn Gallo of West Springfield; and one brother, Richard Varnum of Hopkinton.

Burial will be private in Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Chesmore Funeral Home in Hopkinton.