ROCKLAND – John A. Munsey, 81, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Rockport, after a long illness. He was born Nov. 26, 1923, in Miami, Fla., the son of Clarence W. and Elsie Andrews Munsey. He returned to Maine with his parents at a young age. Educated in Rockland schools, he was a 1942 graduate of Rockland High School. On Feb. 5, 1943, he entered the U.S. Army. After basic training, he served with the 68th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion and landed at Normandy on D-Day. He was actively involved in the Battle of the Bulge and fought with campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Mr. Munsey was honorably discharged from active duty Nov. 2, 1945. Returning to Rockland, he worked one year at Snows Shipyard in Rockland before joining Grover Hopkin in Mr. Hopkin’s AMACO Oil Distributorship as a driver and yard-man. In 1950, John married June Avis Stiles at Rockland. That same year they bought their Rockland home, where he resided until being hospitalized last week. In 1956, Mr. Munsey purchased the oil dealership, which he owned and operated until retiring in 1984. Mr. Munsey was a long-time member of Rockland Kiwanis Club, an 18-year member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club and a member of American Legion Post No. 178, Waterville. For more than 17 years, he enjoyed delivering Meals-On-Wheels and visiting the people he met in that endeavor. He was an active member of the Rockland Congregational Church, serving ten years as Head Usher and ten years as Sunday School Superintendent. Predeceased by his wife on Dec. 3, 1991, Mr. Munsey is survived by two daughters, Janis Guyette and her husband, Walter, of Sorrento, Linda Achorn and her companion, Jim Nickles, of Waldoboro; four grandchildren, Joel Ellis of Hampden, Angela Davis and her husband, Jeremy, of St. George, Randy Achorn Jr. of Thomaston, Rebecca Achorn of Waldoboro; one great-grandchild, Jason Davis; a special cousin, Gerald Richards of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a sister-in-law, Henriella Stiles of Santa Barbara, Calif. and a good friend, Dot Campbell of Owls Head. Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. A celebration of Mr. Munsey’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, at Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St., Rockland. The Rev. Dr. D. Elizabeth Mauro and the Rev. Irven Gammon will officiate. Spring interment will be in West Rockport Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Abiding Memorial Fund, Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St., Rockland, ME 04841 or Meals-On-Wheels, 20 Bartlett St., Rockland, ME 04841.
JOHN A. MUNSEY
