MILLINOCKET – Norman “Bud” E. Dionne, 77, passed away peacefully Aug. 16, 2008, at his summer home after 20 years with heart disease. He was born Sept. 27, 1930, in Millinocket, the son of Alex and Cecelia (LaPlante) Dionne. Bud was a 1948 graduate of Stearns High School and recently attended his 60th class reunion. He played softball, basketball and excelled at track during his high school years. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 15 and enjoyed several summers at Camp Roosevelt. Bud’s first day of work at Great Northern Paper Co., was on his 16th birthday. After serving one year in the U.S. Navy after graduation, he returned to work at Great Northern Paper. He served as local secretary and treasurer for the Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers for 25 years and retired from the steam plant in 1979. As a young man, Bud enjoyed bowling and playing softball. Later on he umpired men’s softball and ran the women’s volleyball program through the Millinocket Recreational Department. He was an avid follower of Stearns boys’ high school basketball and worked for WMKR radio doing game statistics during the Coach Wentworth era. Bud loved to travel and during his early retirement, he and his wife realized a lifelong dream of traveling the country in their motor home. He was well known for his stories and always had a hug for a friend. In more recent years they divided their time between Apache Junction, Ariz., in the winter and camp at Ambajejus Lake, near Millinocket in the summer. Bud is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Elaine (Brown) Dionne; and four children, Cathy Mingo and her husband, James, of Holden, Norma-jean Dadgarian of New York, Thomas and his wife, Carol, of Millinocket and Carol Morrison and her husband, Michael, of Millinocket; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Donald and Robert. At Bud’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral. Graveside services will be announced in a later edition of the Bangor Daily News. Those who wish may donate in his memory to the Heart Center of Eastern Maine Medical Center, care of Eastern Maine Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931 or Katahdin Area Council Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 1869, Bangor, ME 04402-1869. Arrangements with Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. For an online register book, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.
NORMAN ‘BUD’ E. DIONNE
