WELLS – Paul J. Eastman, 87, died Aug. 24, 2007. He was born Nov. 1, 1919, in New-bury, Vt. He moved to Oxbow, in 1930. He attended grammar school in Oxbow and Merrill High School, Smyrna Mills, graduating in 1938. Shortly after entering the University of Maine, he was drafted into the Infantry then was transferred to the Army Air Force. He then went to Randolph Field, Montgomery, Ala., for officer’s training, proceeding to navigation school in San Marcos, Texas, where he graduated at the top of his class. He was then chosen for top secret training for airborne radar, which had just been developed for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. He then joined his crew as a radar navigator bombardier in Alamogordo, N.M., and proceeded through Nebraska to pick up a new B-29 on the way to Tinian Island, with the 20th Air Force, 6th bomb group in the South Pacific theater. He flew 32 combat missions over Tokyo, the last being the day the emperor of Japan surrendered. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. After the war, he returned to the University of Maine, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1946, and Master of Science in 1948. He was a member of Alpha Zeta honorary fraternity and a brother in the Phi Eta Kappa fraternity, Orono. He began employment with the state of Maine in 1949 in agriculture, retiring in 1978 as director of Plant Industry. He was a past president of the MSEA and Potato Association of America. During this time, his greatest responsibility was in the area of seed potato certification and seed development. Under his leadership, the Maine Potato Seed Board farm known as the Porter Farm began production of top quality foundation seed for use by seed potato growers. The demand for this Maine certified seed was great and its high quality led to wide international acceptance of Maine seed potato. Mr. Eastman was predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Pauline Berce. He is survived by his children, James of Augusta, Ellen of Tullahoma, Tenn., and John of Wells; a sister, Sylvia Palmer of Hallowell; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A graveside service with military honors will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, Old Belgrade Road, Augusta. Memorial donations may be made to Paul J. Eastman scholarship fund, UM Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469. Arrangements are under the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells. www.bibberfuneral.com
PAUL J. EASTMAN
