Paul R. Springer Sr., 81, of Waldoboro, died Dec. 26 at the Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport after a brief illness.
Mr. Springer was born July 30, 1927 in Franklin, the son of Ellis E. and Henrietta Foss Springer, and attended Franklin schools.
Leaving school at an early age to work, he began working with his father in the lumber camps in Machias and quarries on Deer Isle. Joining the U.S. Army, he completed basic training and was shipped to the European Theatre, where the war ended before he was assigned over there.
Returning to the Down East area, he worked as a heavy equipment operator until 1958, when he moved to Connecticut to work on construction sites until he moved back to Waldoboro in 1973, opening his own gravel pit and construction company, Springer Construction, which he operated until his health forced him to close it in 1976. He then went to work at the cement plant in Thomaston, first for Cianbro then Dragon Cement, sold firewood from his lot, drove trucks for Northeast Transport, and then Bowden Construction until last year when his health finally forced him to stop work completely.
Known for his smoked alewives, people would travel for miles to purchase them, one family even drove from Montana. He was a 34 year member of the Warren Odd Fellows Lodge #127 in Warren, serving as Grand Noble two times, also the Waldoboro American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is predeceased by his wife Roberta Springer; brothers, Boyd and George Springer Sr.; and sister, Marion Springer.
Survivors include four sons, Paul R. Springer Jr. and wife Kathy of Woodstock, Conn., Lyle Springer and wife Denise of Lewiston, Myron Springer and wife Donna, and
Allan Springer and wife Janita, all of Waldoboro; three daughters, Nancy Scott and husband Brian of Brunswick, Ellen Dearborn and husband Lawrence of Thomaston, and Doris Elwell and husband Randall of St. George; three sisters, Marguerite Moore and husband Irving of Bangor, Larissa Bilodeau and husband Emery of Waldoboro, and Joyce Higgins of Barrington, N.H.; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
An Odd Fellows service and celebration of Paul’s life 10 a.m., Tues., Dec. 30 at the Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. Interment will follow in the Riverside Cemetery, Hancock.
Should friends desire, memorial donations in Mr. Springer’s memory may be made to the Warren Odd Fellows Lodge #127, P.O. Box 101, Warren, ME 04864.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
