Robert O. Wyllie

PRESQUE ISLE – Robert O. Wyllie, 93, former long-time Warren resident, died peacefully, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, at the Aroostook House of Comfort in Presque Isle. Mr. Wyllie was a retired welfare and social services administrator as well as a lifelong musician. He was employed by the Maine Department of Human Services for 25 years (1955-1980), beginning his employment as a social worker in the Caribou office and ending his career as Deputy Commissioner for Social Services in the Augusta central office. He subsequently was employed by the federal Office of Human Development Services in Boston and provided consultation to all six New England States in the administration of federal social service and developmental disability funding.Following retirement he also sold mobile homes for Ray’s Homes of Warren and Northport for several years. He began his avocation as organist and choir director while employed as assistant pastor at the Caribou United Baptist Church in 1952. Later he served as organist and choir director at the Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church in Rockland, the Warren Baptist Church, the Penney Memorial United Baptist Church in Augusta and concluded his avocation career at the Thomaston Baptist Church.During his tenure with the Maine Department of Human Services he wrote and implemented Maine’s initial Medicaid program, oversaw the design and implementation of a redesigned and computerized human services delivery system, and helped to design and implement the reasonable cost reimbursement system for larger-sized licensed boarding homes.In musical circles he is remembered for local organ concerts and direction of the musical celebrating Warren’s sesquicentennial. He is also remembered for initiating the annual Living Christmas Tree concerts at both the Penney Church in Augusta and the Thomaston Baptist Church.Throughout his professional career, as well as in his retirement years, he served on several agency’s Board of Directors including American Public Welfare Association, National Conference of Social Welfare, Mid-Coast Planning Council, Spectrum Generations and Bridges. He also served on various committees at the local municipal and church level including the committee developing Warren’s Comprehensive Plan.He attended Warren Schools and graduated from Warren High School in 1946. He received his A.B. in Th. from Gordon College (then on the Fenway in Boston) in 1950, did graduate work in American Literature at Boston University the following year, and received an A.M. from Chicago University in medical social work in 1960.He was born Aug. 28, 1928, in Warren to Chester and Grace (Lermond) Wyllie. He married Louise Barnes of Caribou in 1954. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife of 57 years; two brothers, Alfred Wyllie and his wife Marion Wyllie, and Gerald Wyllie; a sister Virginia Spear; and a sister-in-law Marion Wyllie. He is survived by a beloved ‘nephew son’ William ‘Bill’ Kelley of Ft. Fairfield, and many other nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. A celebration of Mr. Wyllie’s life will be held announced after the New Year. Interment will be at a later date at Fairview Cemetery in Warren. To share a memory or condolence with the Wyllie family, please visit their Book of Memories at http://www.bchfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.