BANGOR – Alton G. Murchison, 81, died Nov. 14, 2007, at Maine Veterans’ Home, Bangor, after years of dealing with Parkinson disease and osteoporosis. He was born May 3, 1926, in Lincoln, son of Gerrish and Edna (Morse) Murchison. He grew up and attended Lincoln schools until his family moved during his junior year, so his father could find work. He graduated from Lewiston High School. Alton served in the Army/AirCorps during World War II. Upon his return to the Lewiston area, he met his wife, Louise (Tardiff) Murchison, who he was married to for 54 years before her death. He began his career of selling heavy-duty trucks, first Rio then Ford trucks. He moved to Bangor in 1962 to work for Sullivan Ford sales. He also worked for Darling Ford, and Friend Motor sales, Pittsfield and Skowhegan. All who knew him found him to be an exceptional knowledgeable Ford truck salesman. He finally retired at age 77, after selling Ford trucks for more than 50 years. In the 1960s, he and his wife purchased a 36′ cabin cruiser named the Glory B, and they and their three children spent the summers traveling up and down the coast of Maine. He then received a sales award trip to Puerto Rico and discovered golf. He and his wife, Louise, were original members of the newly built Bangor Municipal Golf Course. He continued to play golf almost every day until the Parkinson disease would not allow him to play. Alton was also a champion ten-pin bowler. He bowled in the Monday night men’s league and the Friday night couples league. He bowled in local, state and national tournaments. He was the senior state champion and bowled many times in the National Tournament, Reno, Nev. Al was inducted into the Maine Bowlers Hall of Fame in 2003. He was predeceased by his parents; wife, Louise; an infant daughter; his sisters, Sylvia and Lorraine; brother, Henry; and son-in-law, Bill Barry. He is survived by his three children, Gail Sumner and Ed Thibault, Gary Murchison and Suzi Murchison, and Ellen Barry; three grandsons, Andy Sumner, Billy and Joey Barry; one great-grandson, Nathan Sumner; one sister, Gladys Smith and her husband, Herbert; many nieces and nephews; and two special friends that visited him often while he was at the Veterans’ Home, Shirley Libby and Joe Mizda. Gail especially thanks the staff on D-unit at Maine Veterans’ Home for their love, care and support of her dad. A celebration of life will be held 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor. In honor of Al, donations may be made in his name to his church, Grace Methodist Church, 193 Union St., Bangor, ME 04401. Burial will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Grace-lawn Memorial Park, Auburn.
ALTON G. MURCHISON
