ORONO – Frederick Todd Burpee II died April 9, 2007, in Orono. He was born Feb. 14, 1917, on Bennoch Road, to Merritt L. Burpee and Mary Pearl (Gothrow) Burpee. He graduated from Orono High School in 1934, and was a member of the 1932 undefeated and unscored upon, Orono High School football team. He graduated from Higgins Classical Institute and attended the University of Maine. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army with the 583rd Ambulance Company during World War II. Capt. F.T Burpee’s company evacuated more than 14,000 wounded troops at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He was also in the Ardennes, Northern France and Central Europe theaters, and was awarded the Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge. Fred’s favorite vocation and avocation was carpentry. He worked for many years with his father, Merritt Burpee, building homes in the Orono area. Fred is best known for his hometown store, F.T. Burpee Hardware, which he owned and operated for 14 years in Orono village. For 10 years, Fred worked for the Farmer’s Home Administration as a building inspector and assistant county supervisor. Retirement in 1979 gave Fred many more days at Pushaw Lake and the beloved cottage he built with his dad in 1936. He was very community minded, served in Kiwanis, was the first president of the Orono Jaycees, a member of the American Legion Post No. 84, Orono and served on many town committees. Fred was a charter member of the Church of Universal Fellowship. Fred’s involvement in the community and love of sports and especially of good sportsmanship, prompted him to establish the F.T. Burpee Good Sportsmanship Award in 1949. It continues to this day and is awarded annually to a deserving athlete in the junior class of Orono High School. Fred married the former Ruth A. Virgie of Orono and they celebrated 55 years of marriage before her passing Oct. 28, 1998. He is survived by three children, Marilyn B. Adkins and husband, Randy, of Orono; Bette Ann Burpee of Berwick and F. Todd Burpee III and wife, Denise, of Bucksport; six grandchildren, Joe K. Adkins, Mike S. Adkins, Rick T. Gibbs, Scott N. Gibbs, Rory M. Burpee and Benjamin T. Burpee; two great-grandsons, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Barton and Howard; three sisters, Vera, Mildred and Mary Lou. The Burpee family expresses their appreciation to the staff of Orono Commons for their loving care. Friends may call 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at Brookings-Smith LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, April 19, at the Church of Universal Fellowship, Orono, with the Rev. Lorna Stuart, pastor, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments in the church vestry after the service. Interment will be later in the spring at the Riverside Cemetery, Orono. Those who wish to remember Fred in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Orono High School Athletic Department, 14 Goodrich Drive, Orono, ME 04473. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com
FREDERICK TODD BURPEE II
