Richard Earl Brown Sr.

WATERVILLE – Richard Earl Brown Sr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sept. 14, 2021, while residing at Oak Grove Nursing Facility, in Waterville.

He was born in Wilton on April 2, 1929. The first of twins to Elsie (Lane) and Lester Brown.

He grew up in Norridgewock, attending school there until the passing of his father, at which time he went to work to help support his family as a farm laborer.

Later, he became a shoemaker. Service to his country interrupted his vocation as a shoemaker and he went to answer his country’s call and was deployed in the Far East at Pusan Korea during the Korean Conflict.

His troopship sailed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge on its way to the Sea of Japan, where his ship was struck by a barge carrying explosive ordinance. Heavily damaged, the ship arrived in Japan.

He completed his service and returned to the U.S. Once returned stateside, on his return journey to Maine, he marveled at the beauty and majesty of the Cascade Mountains. He resumed his shoemaking career .

In 1957 he met Marguerite V. O’Graffum, and they married shortly after. They enjoyed their time together as man and wife for over 50 years, until the Lord called her home.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown worked hard during the workweek, raising two sons. When weather permitted, on the weekends, they were all camping together in the Great Northwoods of Maine.

Richard took an active role in his son’s Boy Scouting activities, serving as an assistant to the Scoutmaster. While associated with scouting he trained with the “Snowbirds” at Brunswick Naval Station for winter survival camping. He and his comrades endured -20°F degree overnight weather, he found the experience exhilarating.

Once retired from working, Peggy and Richard spent as much time as possible in the outdoors, in many locations, finally adopting Little Austin Pond as their spring-summer-early autumn locales.

And they did enjoy their time together out in the beauty that is Maine.

Omitted from previous publication Richard’s sisters, Beatrice H. Therriault Wyman, Ruth Adams and Barbara Brown preceded him.

A graveside service to be held 11 a.m., Saturday Oct. 2, at the Oak Cemetery in Norridgewock.