Horace Upham Ransom, Jr., 93, of Bremen, passed away peacefully on April 15 at his home.
Born in Belmont, Mass. on March 31, 1914, he grew up in Flemington, N.J. on a small farm that is now called the “Governor Redding House.” His father was a civil engineer, taught at Harvard Engineering School, and then became a farmer. Horace’s parents subsequently moved to New Hampshire where Horace’s father served as a member of the New Hampshire legislature.
Horace graduated from Exeter Academy in 1932 and went on to earn an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard School of Business.
His emphasis in bank management took him into a career of banking, becoming a vice-president of Second National Bank (State Street Bank) of Boston, Mass. and later, president and director of Chittenden Trust Company, Burlington, Vt.
He served in WWII as a Lieutenant (jg) in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946. He also served on the Board of Directors of many companies: Health Insurance of Vermont; Rock of Ages, Corp.; Greater Burlington Industrial Corp.; New England Council of Vermont Bankers Association; Mt. Mansfield T.V. Inc.; Madonna Mountain Corp.; Lane Press; and Vermont-New Hampshire Physicians Service.
He was a member and past president of Burlington, Vt. and Damariscotta/Newcastle Rotary Clubs, past president and trustee of the Second Congregational Church of Newcastle, and a life member and past secretary/treasurer of the Bremen Fire Department.
At the time of his death, he was an active member of the Bremen Union Church. In addition, Horace was a past member of Miles Memorial Hospital Finance Committee and Director of Civil Defense for Bremen. He was also past commodore of the Lake Champlain Yacht Club.
He enjoyed amateur HAM radio, tennis, metal and woodworking, boating/sailing, tree farming, and computers.
He was married 65 years to Elisabeth Allbright Ransom, who predeceased him in September 2002.
He leaves his three daughters, Judith Dinger of La Habra, Cal., Patricia Wilson of Denver, Col., and Carol Ransom of Bremen; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. A fourth daughter, Sally Leighton of Westboro, Mass, predeceased him.
Memorial service to celebrate Horace’s life 11 a.m., Sat., May 26 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle.
Horace’s family wishes to express its sincere and heartfelt thanks to those offering help and support through phone calls, cards and flowers.
In memory of Horace, donations may be made to Bremen Union Church, 533 Waldoboro Rd., Bremen, ME 04551 or to the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle, 51 Main St., Newcastle, ME 04553.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
