Richard Hamlin LaBelle

ROME – On the evening of Sept. 23, 2024, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather was called home to Glory. Richard “Dick” LaBelle, Rome’s oldest resident, was 96.

Born Oct. 3, 1927, in Pearl River, NY, Richard was the sixth child of Ernest Adelbert and Ruth (Bickford) LaBelle. As a child, Dick moved around following the business of his father’s portable sawmill for many years. In his younger years, Dick would move with his family from New York to New Jersey to New Hampshire before finally settling in Maine. Richard answered America’s call to service during the Second World War. In 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy, heading to the Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland before taking a train cross-country to join his shipmates. The young Private served in the Pacific Theatre, spending much of his time in China.

Upon his return from war, Dick continued to travel with his family. His father’s business took him to Maine, where Richard would meet the love of his life. After courting her for some time, Dick married Lois Marie Mosher, daughter of the late Paris L. and Martha E. (Dudley) Mosher, on Nov. 25, 1950, in Fairfield, Maine. Together, they settled and made a home on their Jamaica Point farm. Dick and Lois raised five children on their beautiful eleven-acre parcel overlooking Great Pond.

Richard was always an active woodsman, either in career or leisure. In 1949, he began his 18 years working in the woods for Luther Stevens. With a changing economy and a growing family, Dick yearned to provide his family with a stronger way of life. With an eighth-grade education and very little start-up money, it was in 1969 that Richard took a risk and defied the odds to start his own business, Dick LaBelle’s Plumbing. Even without indoor plumbing in his own home, Dad was determined to take his new-found trade and create a livelihood that would afford a better future for his family. With signature red trucks and blue Dickies, the company continues to deliver quality service 55 years later under the watchful eye of his son, Alan and grandson Chapin.

Even after his retirement in 1991, Dick would work part-time in the plumbing business. As he looked to his retirement, he found much more time to take up his special interests. On a spring day, you may have found Dick planting flowers and vegetables in his greenhouse or sawing logs and splitting wood in the yard. On a summer’s day, he may have been deep among his raspberry bushes or huddled between sewn rows of vegetables. Fall brought harvest and a bit of rest before winter when Dick would retreat to the woodshop to construct beautiful pieces of small furniture for family and friends; he was especially well known for his beautiful mission-style furniture. For 38 years, Richard served the Town of Rome as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, a member of the Rome School Board, Board of Health, Budget Committee, Planning Board and/or Rome Recreation Committee.

Though busy with work and hobbies, Richard always had time for the Lord. Dick gave his life to the Lord as a young man and lived each day, placing his faith and finding strength in Jesus Christ. Dick and Lois were members of the Rome Baptist Church for many years. In 1990, they began a search for a new home church and found a small country church to call their home: North Belgrade Baptist Church. Richard served as a deacon there for many years. Under the leadership of dear friends, Pastor Terry & Jackie Tiner, North Belgrade Baptist Church and Dick & Lois would become nearly synonymous. In good time, the congregation aged and the church became Lakes Christian Fellowship. Pastor George & Barbara Finnemore led the church and became close friends.

Richard is survived by his five children, all of Jamaica Point, Rome, Susan LaBelle, Cynthia and husband Gary Wilkie, Sandra LaBelle, Sara LaBelle, and Alan and wife Lynn (Buzzell) LaBelle. Grampa leaves behind eight grandchildren, Joshua Desrosiers and wife Kahlie, Dr. Jessica Desrosiers and husband Ramel Dennis, Andrew Wilkie and wife Molly, Paige Collier and partner Kelsey Saucier, Chapin LaBelle and wife Rebekah, Alyssa and husband Ryan Bell, Richard LaBelle, and Chena and husband Jacob Bean. Grampa LaBelle truly adored his great-grandchildren, Jessica Dennis, Elsie Bell, Ander Bell, River Wilkie, Aiden Desrosiers, Nevaeh Dennis, Peri Wilkie, Emilyn Desrosiers, Adaline Bean, Quinn LaBelle, and Warren Bean. Richard is also survived by a sister-in-law Hannah LaBelle.

Richard was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Lois Marie (Mosher) LaBelle, and his great-grandson, Isaiah Hamlin Dennis. Also, siblings Archena Bickford McCrory, Russell LaBelle, Herman LaBelle, Jean Linderman, Frances McCord, W. Arthur LaBelle, Sr., and Lee LaBelle

The family extends a warm and sincere thank you and heartfelt appreciation to the absolutely wonderful Eagle Landing Delta staff (current and past), the Veteran’s Home incredibly compassionate support staff and administration. You were truly Dick’s friends and advocates.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, Oct 4. 4 – 7 p.m. at Wheeler’s Funeral Home, 26 Church St. in Oakland. A funeral will be Oct. 5, at 10 a.m. at the Lakes Christian Fellowship Church, 744 Augusta Rd. in Belgrade. Interment to follow at Brookside Cemetery Wooster Hill Rd., Rome.

For whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die. – John 11:26

Services are in the care of Wheeler Funeral Home Church Street, Oakland Maine. http://www.wheelerfh.com

Donations may be made in Dick’s memory to:

Lakes Christian

Fellowship Church

744 Augusta Rd.

Belgrade, ME 04917 or to:

Maine Veteran’s Home

Memo: Employee

Appreciation Committee

35 Heroes Way

Augusta, ME 04330