Charles F. “Duddie” Farmer Sr., 79, a resident of Union, passed away May 11 at the Quarry Hill in Camden following a period of failing health.
Duddie was born Nov. 23, 1932 in Rockland, the son of Edward W. and Hattie V. Finley Farmer, and attended Camden High School. In 1953, during his senior year, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army. Leaving school in January, he served in active duty stateside as a member of the Medical Corps, first in Fort Sam Houston in Texas, then at West Point.
Upon his discharge in 1956, he returned to Union, where he began work with the local lime quarry loading trucks, working for the local blueberry farms trucking the crates of blueberries, and trucking Christmas trees from farms in Quebec to the Eastern states, including New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For the last 33 years, Duddie has been employed with the Maine Department of Transportation, retiring in 2000 as a loader operator and crew leader.
Active in the community, he was a member of the People’s United Methodist Church in Union, where he loved spending time with his church family which was very important to him. He belonged to the United Methodist Men, served on the Outreach Committee recording Sunday services and delivering them to local shut-ins, was co-leader of the Methodist Youth Fellowship and served on various boards and committees.
He was also a member of the Union Fire Department, was a troop leader for the local Boy Scout troop, Union Odd Fellows, Union Senior Citizens, enjoyed making wood crafts, completing word search puzzles, Wii bowling and candlepin bowling, hunting and fishing, and spending time with people and loved nothing more that to get them laughing.
He is predeceased by his sister, Grace Lymburner, sisters-in-law, Frieda Prescott and Susan Prescott; and brothers-in-law, Joseph Laycox, Fred Godbout, Red Merrifield, Kenneth Boody, Walter Maxim, and Blaine Lymburner.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Esther Prescott Farmer of Union; daughter, Kathleen Farmer of Union; son, Charles “Chuck” Farmer Jr. and wife Valerie of Rockport; grandchildren, Lee Campbell and wife Jen of Warren, Nicholas Campbell and companion Ashley Mellor of Warren; step-grandchildren, Heather Beaupre of Union, Kristie Beverage and husband Joel of Jefferson; great-grandchildren, Hailey Campbell and Dagen Campbell, both of Warren; step-great-grandchildren, Racquelle Beaupre of Union, Austin, James and Carly Beverage, all of Jefferson; sisters-in-law, Mae Laycox of Cambridge, Mass., Regina Godbout of Augusta, Alice Boody of Lincolnville, Laurel Maxim of Freeville, N.Y.; brothers-in-law, Leander “Sonny” Prescott of Corning, N.Y., and Allen Prescott and wife Claire of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and many nieces and nephews.
Celebration of Duddie’s life 3 p.m., Sat., May 19 at the People’s United Methodist Church, Union, with Rev. George Hodgkins officiating, with reception to follow in the fellowship hall. Private interment will be in the Marr Cemetery, Washington.
Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the People’s United Methodist Church Lift Fund, PO Box 105, Union, ME 04862.
You are invited to share your condolences, memories and photos with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
