HOWLAND – Linwood Robert Earl Harper, 87, husband of the late Cecilia Louise (Edgecomb) Harper, passed away Jan. 2, 2005, at a Howland healthcare facility. He was born Aug. 10, 1917, in Hudson, the son of Albert and Laura (O’Riley) Harper. Earl grew up on a farm in the Hudson/LaGrange area. He moved to Howland as an adolescent, and met the love of his life when he was 18 years old. They were married in 1937, and raised a large family, and were together for 62 years when Cecilia Louise passed away in 2000. Earl served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He held several jobs as a taxi driver, a machinist, a furnace operator, and during his retirement worked part time for the town of Howland as cemetery curator and caretaker of the waste disposal facility. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, country music and spending time with his family. He is survived by five sons, Albert Henry Harper Sr. and his friend, Marcia, of Millinocket, George Harper Sr. and his wife, Judy, of Howland, Harold Harper Sr. and his wife, Dianne, of West Enfield, Laurence Harper Sr. and Charlotte, of West Enfield, and Kenneth Harper Sr. and his wife, Lenora, of Howland; two daughters, Elizabeth (Harper) Ireland and Norman, of Howland and Joan (Harper) Pelkey and her husband, Robert, of Howland; 33 grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, five great-stepgrandchildren, several great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 12-2 p.m. Wednesday, at the Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Alan Porter officiating. Spring interment will be in Howland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to American Heart Association, 343 Gorham Road, South Portland, ME 04106. For an online register book, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.
LINWOOD ROBERT EARL HARPER
