ELLSWORTH – John Hugh Tewell, 84, died Feb. 10, 2007, surrounded by his wife and children at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital. He was born March 16, 1922, in Uniontown, Pa., the son of Samuel and Martha Tewell. John came from a large family and left school in order to work to support his widowed mother and family. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and served as cook for the 558th Engineers Heavy Pontoon Bridge Battalion. He met his future bride, Evelyn Stangroom, while stationed in Newport, R.I., in 1944. He won her heart in a week, corresponded with her for a year, and married her while on leave in 1945 in Elizabethtown, N.Y., where Evelyn was residing. After a week’s leave, John left his bride behind and his Army unit was sent to the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and joined Evelyn in Massachusetts, where he began work at the Woburn Fertilizer Co. He then worked under a G.I. Bill, as an apprentice upholsterer. After the birth of their first two children they moved to Pennsylvania, where John worked for Bertolo Construction Co., as a mason. After the birth of their third child, they moved to Mount Desert Island, where their last two children were born. After many different jobs he took permanent employment with the Jackson Laboratory from 1958 until his retirement, in 1985. After retirement, he continued to work part time. They moved to Ellsworth in 1988. Last July they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. In March 2005, John was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a disease of the blood and bone marrow. He endured chemotherapy injections, red blood and platelet transfusions, regular visits to the Mary Dow Center for Cancer Care, frequent trips to the emergency room and several hospitalizations. Through all his fighting, John still managed to drive his wife to her appointments, cook, hook rugs, play cards, watch John Wayne movies and generally, enjoy his wonderful life. His last admittance to the intensive care unit at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital with pneumonia, was the last infliction of this dreadful disease. John was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, American Legion Post No. 207, Trenton and the VFW Post No. 109, Ellsworth. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, David Tewell and fiancee, Shirley Cullen, of New Hampshire; three daughters, Joan Bell and significant other, Robert Jackson, of Merritt Island, Fla., Betty Schatz and husband, George, of Ellsworth and Martha Farley and husband, Charles Jr., of Trenton; one daughter-in-law, Susan Tewell of Lamoine; ten grandchildren, Aaron and Jeremy Bell, Joshua, Shannon, Lindsey, Michael and Alexis Tewell, Jonathan Schatz, Samantha and Abigail Farley; two great-grandchildren, Austin and Tyler Tewell. John was predeceased by his parents; his stepfather, James Holt; brothers, Zadie, Omer, Edgar, Sam and Ralph Tewell; his sisters, Dorothy Baird, Daisy Sickles and Velma Hrezo; a son, John R. Tewell; and grandson, Joseph A. Tewell. The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at the Mary Dow Center for Cancer Care, Dr. O.L. Haynes, Chris, James, Julia, Joan and so many other nurses and doctors at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, who took such special care of him during his last week. Friends are invited to call 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Jordan-Fernald, 133 Franklin St., Ellsworth. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at the Church of Our Father, Hulls Cove, with Fr. Bob Raymond officiating. A reception will be held after, put on by the E.C.W. Contributions in John’s memory may be made to the Mary Dow Center for Cancer Care, at the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth, ME 04605. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
JOHN HUGH TEWELL
