Forrest E. Faulkingham Sr., 89, of Newcastle, passed away on the morning of May 2 at Cove’s Edge Nursing Home in Damariscotta. Born on Nov. 21, 1922 in Boston, Mass., he was the son of Charles and Zola Lorraine Faulkingham.
Forrest grew up in Ellsworth and Wiscasset. He attended and graduated from Wiscasset Academy, and began work as a pipefitter at Bath Iron Works, where he met welder Alta Bailey, whom he dated for one month before joining her in a marriage that would last nearly 66 years until her passing in March of 2011.
A lifelong salesman, he worked in Florida, New York and Maine, and owned many local businesses with his wife, including Larson’s Lunch Box, The Bristol Diner and Spinney’s. An avid Boston Red Sox fan, he was thrilled to have seen the team win two World Series in his lifetime. He took great pride teaching his grandsons baseball skills, and loved to pass afternoons hitting ground balls to them at his home in Newcastle. He also enjoyed taking his grandchildren to Damariscotta Mills to swim, where he would spend hours watching as they played.
A passionate country music fan, Forrest was an accomplished guitarist and singer who despised the loud drums, unintelligible lyrics and long hair associated with rock and roll. He often stated that if drums could be heard in a song, they were too loud, and that if rock and roll could be heard at all, the radio should be turned off.
Forrest’s collection of die-cast model cars was his passion, and he amassed over 400 during his lifetime. His collection will be donated to the Owls Head Transportation Museum. Along with his wife Alta, Forrest was a lifelong member of the Bath Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Besides his parents and wife, he was predeceased by four siblings.
He is survived by his children, Forrest Jr. and wife Sydney of Alna, and Janet Long of Newcastle; brother, Mike Bryant of Lehigh Valley, Penn.; grandchildren, Michael Faulkingham, Amy Faulkingham, Aaron Curtin, and Kate Gustafson; as well as four great-grandchildren.
Time of visitation 10-11 a.m., Tues., May 8 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m., also at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in the Pine Knoll Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, 27 Atlantic Highway, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.stronghancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
