SOUTH PORTLAND – Oliver B. Colson went home to the Lord surrounded by his loving family Feb. 21, 2005. “O.B.” as he was known by many was born May 24, 1909, the second son of Oliver W. & Gussie B Colson of Winterport, Maine. O.B. was a graduate of Winterport High School and Gilman Commercial College of Bangor. In 1929, he married the love of his life, “My Hazel”, as he so sweetly called her, sharing the last 75 years as an inseparable couple. He was self-employed for seven years then during the depression, worked for W. A. Bean & Sons; a wholesale meat company and Bangor Baking Company as a salesman. He then became a carpenter and builder of homes until his retirement in 1968, when he moved to South Portland, to be closer to their daughter and her family. He and his wife spent 20 winters in Florida where they joined Avon Park Grange and Avon Park Winter Guest Club. They were very active playing shuffle board, where he received many trophies. While in Bangor, he was a member of The First Baptist Church and, after moving to South Portland, became a member of Central Square Baptist Church of Portland. Some of O.B.’s favorite hobbies included fishing, gardening and woodworking, but his lifelong passion besides his family was hunting with his grandson. He was predeceased by his older brother Wilbur who died in 1974, and, his younger brother Albert who died in 1976. In addition to his wife, Hazel (Mason) Colson, he leaves behind a daughter Violet Sferes of Windham; three grandchildren, Cheryl Conroy; of South Portland, Tony Sferes; of Steep Falls, and Diane Sferes; of Scarborough, eight great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Christopher, Benjamin, Emily, Nicole, Kristina, Timmy, and Mason; and several nieces and nephews Visiting hours will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, at the Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland, and 12-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the funeral home with a 1 p.m. funeral service to follow. Interment will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Salvation Army in memory of Oliver B. Colson.
OLIVER B. COLSON
