OAKLAND – The Honorable Bertram N. Marston, 69, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at Maine General Medical Center in Waterville. He was born Sept. 21, 1935, on the Clyde Blake farm in Oakland, the son of Walter L. and Grace E.(Hinkley) Marston. He attended local schools, graduating from Williams High School in Oakland Class of 1953. Bert enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953. He served as sergeant during the Korean War, and was honorably discharged in 1956. On April 13, 1954 he married Barbara J. Thompson. His interest in community sports led him to organize and participate in many local sports activities. He founded the Williams High School Sports Booster Club, the Messalonskee All Sports Booster Club, was an original member of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Commission, serving as chairperson in 1991- 1992. He was Founder and commissioner of the Oakland Youth Football League and was Founder and supervisor of the Oakland Summer Basketball, and Babe Ruth Summer Baseball Programs. He was a member of the Maine Youth Alliance which created the new Boys Club – Girls Club – YMCA at the Alfond Youth Center. Bert was active in local and state politics, serving in Maine House of Representatives in the 114th Maine Legislature. He was on Oakland’s Long Range Zoning and Planning Committee and was Advisor to the Town’s Charter Revision Commission. From 1968 to 1986 he was on Oakland Public Schools Board of Directors and the Board of Directors for S.A.D. No. 47 in 1997. In 1986, he was the recipient of the United Way Community Appreciation Award. In 1983, he received special recognition for his dedication to community service. He received the Mid Maine Chamber of Commerce Achievement Award, the Cascade Grange Citizen Award, and was appointed to the Presidential Better Business Advisory Council. In 2003, Bert was the Grand Marshall for Oakland’s Memorial Day Parade. He was employed at W&B Marston in Oakland from 1956 until 1986. He was vice-president and treasurer of Fabian Oil from 1985-1995, and was president and treasurer of PPCOM Inc. from 1984 to 2000. He was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Barbara Marston. Surviving are his children, Mike Marston and wife, Marion, Kim Poulin and husband, Tom, Kathleen Thompson and husband, Tim, Bridget Fabian and husband, E.J., all of Oakland, and Becky Jo Marston of North Belgrade; grandchildren, Max, Barbara, Bert, and Jane Marston, Elizabeth, Brittney and Chanelle Poulin, Ryan and Chelsea Blethen, and Ted Fabian; a sister, Susan King and husband, Paul Jr., of Oakland; sisters-in-law, Elaine Thompson, Jennifer Soper, and Leda Thompson; several nieces and nephews. There will be no public visiting hours. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Mountaintop Christian Fellowship, High Street, Oakland with the Rev. Andrew Kane officiating. Friends and family are invited to a gathering at the home of Kathleen and Tim Thompson on the Belgrade Road in Oakland following the service. Burial will be at a later date at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. Arrangements are by Wheeler Funeral Home of Oakland. Those who wish may make memorial donations to Barbara J. Marston Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Dr. James C. Morse, 47 Heath St., Oakland, ME 04963.
BERTRAM N. MARSTON
