Mervin Lester Rice, 91, of South Bristol, passed away Aug. 27 at Cove’s Edge in Damariscotta.
Mervin was born Jan. 9, 1915, to Parker and Maude Rice in South Bristol.
He was a life long resident of South Bristol, serving his community as a selectman and on the planning board for many years. His life work was operating a sawmill with his brother, Walter Rice. After many years of lumbering, he worked for Tracor in South Bristol testing equipment for the Navy. For most of his life he made community service his top priority, looking after neighbors and friends.
He loved his hunting dogs and enjoyed hunting fox, rabbit, raccoon, and he loved to deer hunt with his sons and grandsons, Adam and Tim. He was a member of the Odd Fellows in Round Pond and also belonged to the Seaside Grange in Bristol. He will be sadly missed by good friend, Elinor Edlund.
He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth, and his second wife, Marion; daughter-in-law, Dora; brothers, Carroll and Wilder; and sisters, Edith, Louise, Arlene, Lizzie and Sylvia.
He is survived by his daughters, Adele McFarland and husband Frank of South Bristol, and Rebecca Webber and husband Wayne of Southington, Conn.; sons, Chester and wife Katherine of South Bristol, and David of South Bristol; grandchildren, Patricia Block of South Bristol, Cindy Roberts of Gray, Kay Crothers of South Bristol, Debbie Walls of East Hartford, Conn., Timothy Webber of Derry, N.H., Sherry Webber of Bristol, Conn., Elizabeth Maglio of Bristol, Conn., Kimberly Costa of Standish, Erica Waltz of Damariscotta, Amy McFarland of Nobleboro, Holly Cushing of South Bristol, and Adam Rice of South Bristol; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; brothers, William of Damariscotta, and Walter and Merrill of Bristol; and sister, Amy Poole of Edgecomb.
Celebration of Mervin’s life 11 a.m., Fri., Sept. 1 at the Walpole Union Church. Burial will follow in West Bristol Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Walpole Union Church, P.O. Box 49, Walpole, ME 04573.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.