ORLAND – John Franklin Longfellow Meigs, affectionately known as Pinky, died Aug. 10, 2006, in Bel-fast, after a period of declining health. He was born Sept. 26, 1918, in Augusta, a son of Louise (Longfellow) Meigs and George R. Meigs. He grew up in Augusta and the Bucksport area. Upon graduation from Bucksport High School, he went to work as a welder and millwright until World War II. He joined the Army Air Corps and served with valor and distinction from August 1942 until October 1945. A technical sergeant, he flew as bombardier-navigator on the B-26 with the 454th bomb squadron in the European theatre, participating in campaigns in France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was awarded the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal and the European African and Middle East campaign ribbon. After the war, Mr. Meigs returned to Bucksport and as a single father, raised his son. He worked for many years as a millwright at the paper mill. An Orland resident, he was devoted to family and community. He was a member of the Orland United Methodist Church. He belonged to the Orland Fire Department for almost 50 years and served in every capacity. From 1973 to 1987, he served on the Orland Planning Board and from 1987 to 1996 on the Orland Zoning Board of Appeals. He volunteered as town fish warden, dedicated to maintaining the alewife fishery in the Narramissic River. He served as tree warden. He was a loyal member of Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, AF & AM, No. 71 and of Riverside Chapter, No. 123, Order of the Eastern Star and worked tirelessly in the chapter room and in the community for those organizations. After retirement, Mr. Meigs married the woman who had been his high school sweetheart and he enjoyed many happy years. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Russell Meigs and his wife, Ruth Brown (Goodridge) Meigs. He is survived by his sisters, Julia Mann of Bucksport, Ann Swazey of Bucksport and Norma Lydick of Brewer; his son, Franklin E. Meigs and partner, Dianne Wellman and their children, Jay and Michael; and stepchildren, James Kelley, Kevin Kelley, Carol Hutchins, Sheila Kelley; John and Karen Curtis and children, Jeff and Heather Curtis, Daniel and Marilyn Curtis, Jennifer and Matt Heil; Mark and Susan Goodridge and children, Ellen Hunter and Benjamin Good-ridge; Joanna Goodridge and Daniel Doyle and children, Richard and Joanna Gushee and Patricia and Michael Roux; John and Patricia Worth and children, Jonathan Worth and Emily Worth; Ellen and Tyler Vickers and children, Sarah Vickers and Zachary Vickers; many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and friends. He was a kind, creative and patient father, grandfather, uncle, brother, son and friend. Mr. Meigs left a message, “I want to thank my wonderful family and friends for the kind of life they gave me. I hope they know how much I love them. If I have ended up with more friends than enemies, I’ve done all right!, signed, Grampy Pink.” Visitation for family and friends will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Orland United Methodist Church with Pastor Janice L. Rhenow officiating. Interment will be at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. The family respectfully suggests that if friends desire and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Orland Fire Department, Orland, ME 04472.
JOHN FRANKLIN LONGFELLOW MEIGS
