EAST ORLAND – Alfred Leon Philbrook, 77, died Wednesday, July 30, 2008, doing what he loved the most, tending his garden in his backyard. Al was an avid gardener; you would always see him in the backyard tending to his garden. In addition to gardening, Al’s passions in life were fishing and making people laugh. You did not visit Al without hearing a joke he heard, or maybe one he wrote himself. He was born April 18, 1931. He was in the last graduating class at Guilford High School in 1949. He then served in the Army from July 1949 to June 1953, then the Air National Guard from January 1954 to June 1955, during that year he attended Husson College. He joined the Air Force in July 1955 to June 1960. After his years of service in the military, he began his career as special agent to the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Information Agency. He finished his career with the U.S. State Department, to which some of his duties included protecting U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, the moon rocks and was a security officer at the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 70, Osaka, Japan. He retired from civil service on his 50th birthday in 1981. After leaving the military, Al attended the University of Maryland, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in education in 1963. Al is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Peggy (Prendergast) Philbrook of East Orland; one sister, Jerene Robinson and her husband, Ernest, of Nova Scotia; one aunt, Winifred Philbrook of Belfast; and his cousin, Gerry Holland, also of Belfast. Al is also survived by special family, Eddie, Val, Austin and Winston Mason of Bucksport, Jane Tannehill, Phil and Alberta Whitney, Steve and Debbi Sheehan, all of East Orland, these people meant the most to Al and he considered them his family. He was predeceased by his beloved grandparents, Alfred and Maude Philbrook, who raised him as their own son and whom Al loved very much. At Al’s request there will be no visitation. A graveside service will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Back Ridge Cemetery, Back Ridge Road, East Orland, with Father James Plourde officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Hancock County Home Care, 82 Water St., Blue Hill, ME 04614 or a humane society of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport. www.legacy.com
ALFRED LEON PHILBROOK
