Montpelier, VT Bonnie V. Fairbanks of Deerfield Drive, Montpelier, died peacefully on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at Rowan Court Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was 65 years old. Bonnie was born in Salem, Massachusetts on October 18, 1946, the oldest child of John Vandertuin and Claire (Bolles) Vandertuin. She graduated from Ichabod Crane High School in Kinderhook, New York, attended Gordon College in Massachusetts and received her Bachelor's Degree in the Adult Degree program at Johnson State College. Bonnie worked in the human resources field, including having served as personnel director for the City of Burlington in Bernie Sanders' administration, and human resources director for Green Mountain Power, Institute for Sustainable Communities, and Goddard College. She was involved with various charitable and civic organizations throughout her life. On June 20, 1987, she married Robert M. Fairbanks in Greensboro, Vermont. They lived in Worcester and Montpelier. Bonnie enjoyed gardening, skiing, hiking the hills of Vermont, and the company of her family and large circle of friends. She was probably happiest when spending time with her beloved grandson Connor. She was known for her "experimental" cooking at dinner parties she hosted and her eye for color in decorating her homes. Her family thanks all of her friends for the wonderful support and care provided her during her illness. Bonnie is survived by her husband Bob of Montpelier and her son Christopher Rock and his wife Shawn O'Neill, and her grandson Connor, all of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. She is also survived by her mother Claire of Middlebury, Vermont, her brothers Peter Vandertuin and his partner Karen Boutelle of Brattleboro, Vermont, and Jan Vandertuin of Eugene, Oregon, and her sisters Barbara Stahle and her husband Ron of Brandon, Vermont, and Sara Davis and her husband Terry of Reno, Nevada, and numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her father John Vandertuin. The family is planning a memorial service to be held in Greensboro at a later date. Contributions may be made in her memory to the Greensboro Free Library in Greensboro, Vermont or the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont. The family also wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Rowan Court for the care and comfort given to Bonnie in the final weeks of her illness.