Vance A. Bailey, Sr., 55, of Whitefield, died Nov. 25 at the VA Medical Center at Togus. He had bravely fought a two and half year battle with cancer. Vance was born Jan. 10, 1953 in Enid, Okla., a son of Linwood A. Bailey, Jr. and Naida Hodgkins. He lived in Oklahoma until age six when he moved to Damariscotta where he attended local schools including Lincoln Academy.
He joined the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and served at Loring Air Force Base and in Germany. After his Air Force service, he worked for Brunswick Naval Air Station as a civilian fuel supervisor at the Harpswell Fuel Farm.
He was later employed by Redlon-Johnson Co. as a truck driver and in the shop. For two years he was a cross-country trucker. He last worked for Sondik Supply in Portland driving trucks, working at the counter, and most recently as an outside salesman. He worked for Sondik for 15 years until his declining health forced him to retire.
He was the current commander of The Sons of the American Legion Post #54 in Wiscasset. He was also a member of the Wells-Hussey American Legion Post #42 in Damariscotta as well as a member of 40 and 8. He was a member of the Whitefield Lions Club. He loved all kinds of music, dancing and singing. Vance will be remembered for his love of family and for his wide circle of friends. His generosity touched many lives. When he realized that his illness was progressing, he planned a party to gather together all his friends and family. Held last month at the Damariscotta Legion Hall over 250 people gathered to be with him in what he called, “his last hoorah.”
He was predeceased by his wife, Judith Anne Thomas Bailey; brothers, Henry Waltz, Jr. and Mark Waltz; and mother, Naida Hodgkins Waltz.
He is survived by sons, Vance A. Bailey, Jr. of Wiscasset, Joshua Bailey and wife Desire`e of Wiscasset, and David Gillison, Jr. of Woolwich; daughters, Jennifer Gillison of Haines, Fla. and Julie Arbour and husband Al of Whitefield; father, Linwood A. Bailey, Jr. and wife Mary Lou Bailey of Alna; sisters, Brenda Prior of Bremen and Ellen Pippenger and husband Daniel of Portland, Ore.; brothers, Gary Waltz and wife Gwendolyn of Whitefield and Linwood A. Bailey III and wife Karen of Sabattus; grandchildren, Katelin Bailey of Oxford, Gabrianna Bailey of Wiscasset, Mark Arbour of Whitefield, Lilly Potter of Palermo, Makayla Gillison of Lake Whales, Fla., Zachary Bailey of Jefferson, Morgan Waltz of Whitefield, and Aidan Arbour of Whitefield; step-father, Henry Waltz of Damariscotta; ex-wife, Brenda Bailey of Wiscasset and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
Visiting hours 4-6 p.m. Sun., Nov. 30 at the Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. Funeral 1 p.m., Mon., Dec. 1 at the Hall Funeral Home with Rev. Wallace Staples officiating. Burial will follow in the Alna Cemetery in Alna.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Vance’s memory to Racing Against Cancer, 322 Dennison Rd., P.O. Box 1092, Westbrook, CT. 06498.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Waldoboro.
