Sterling T. Crooker, Sr., 85, of Bristol, died Dec. 10 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.
He was born Jan. 10, 1921, at the family farm in Bristol Mills. He was the son of Joseph E. Crooker and Mary Thompson Crooker, and the youngest of four siblings.
He attended Bristol schools and graduated from Bristol High School in the class of 1938.
He worked for the Town of Bristol doing various jobs until he went to welding school. He began his 44-year career at Bath Iron Works in April 1941.
He entered the U.S. Army Infantry in July 1943 and was stationed at various Army bases around the United States and also went to Central Europe with the 13th Airborne Division. Following his discharge from the Army, he returned to B.I.W. until he retired in February 1985.
He married Hazel Mae Chisam on June 29, 1946 in Newcastle.
He was a member of Bristol Masonic Lodge #74 A.F. & A.M. He enjoyed hunting, gardening, boating, fishing, feeding his wild turkeys, and especially his trips to the Moosehead area and Nova Scotia, Canada.
He was predeceased by his eldest daughter, Mary Benner on May 7, 1982, and his wife, Hazel Chisam Crooker on May 5, 1984.
He is survived by a son, Sterling T. “Bud” Crooker, Jr. and wife Carol Lee of New Harbor; daughter, Julia Crooker of Bristol; sister-in-law, Emily Sullivan of Oxford, Mass.; grandchildren, Sterling T. “Toby” Crooker III and wife Sara of Bristol, Kristy Gorsuch and husband Todd of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; great-grandson, Cole Gorsuch of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; two nieces and a nephew; and his friends until the end, Phyllis Lilly of Jefferson, Madelyn Benner of Bristol, Bob Hanley of Bristol, Dana Small of Pemaquid Point, and his beloved cat, Tommy.
Graveside service 1 p.m., Fri., Dec. 15 at the Bristol Mills Cemetery in Bristol Mills.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
