CONROE, TEXAS and FRANKLIN – Donald Howard Bickford, 92, formerly of Franklin passed away Friday, Nov. 18, 2005, in Conroe, Texas. He was born april 27, 1913, in Dixmont. Some of the jobs he performed throughout his life included, lifeguard, surveyor, night hotel manager, piano tuner and piano restorer (rebuilt and restored the Cole Porter piano which now sits in the Smithsonian Institute), musician (completely self- taught) composer and lyricist “Rivers of Glory”, minister, story teller, loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Truly inspirational to all who knew him, even ministering in his last years to residents and staff at Park Manor Nursing home and Odyssey Hospice nurses who cared for him in his final years. Rev. Bickford began his pastoral years following his father, Rev. F. Harold Bickford at the Mars Hill Full Gospel Assembly in Mars Hills, in 1943. It was during this time that the founded the Aroostook Pentecostal Campground and Camp meeting in Bridgewater. He had attended Zion Bible Institute in East Providence, R.I., prior to coming to Mars Hill. He was ordained in 1946. In 1951 for the next seven years he was the pastor at the Houlton Full Gospel Assembly, followed by five years at the Bridgewater Full Gospel Church, then on to Saint John, New Brunswick for four years at Full Gospel Assembly. It was here that he composed the popular song, “Rivers of Glory” in 1967. His next journey took him to Bangor, where he assisted the Rev. Clifford A. Crabtree at Pentecostal Assembly on Court Street. Rev. Bickford filled other pulpits for brief periods of time, including Gouldsboro. He was predeceased by his father, F. Harold Bickford; and mother Norma Phillips; two sisters who passed away in early childhood and daughter, Betty Gibson. He is survived by his wife, Isabelle F. (Ragland) Bickford of Woodland, Texas; his sister, Louise Britton of Westbrook; daughters, Judy Jones of Bangor, Eileen Foley of Jensen Beach, Fla., Dianne Heintze and husband, Jay, of Yorktown, Va., Denise Stillwagon and husband, Donald Stillwagon of The Woodlands, Texas, Lorraine Tarr and husband, Glenn Tarr of East Holden; son-in-law, James Gibson of Savannah, Ga.; nephews, Dwayne Britton and wife, Jean, of Scarborough, Danny Britton and wife, Sharon, of Scarborough; grandchildren, Deborah Fisher of Savannah, Ga., Sean Gibson and wife, Duncan, Brian Gibson and wife, Autumn, all of Birmingham, Ala., Vernon Jones and wife, Abagail and Gunnar Jones, all of Ashburn, Va., Melissa Foley of Chicago, Il., Brandon Belakovich of Newport News, Va., Brent Heintze of Poguoson, Va., Meagan Heintze of Yorktown, Va., Matthew Stillwagon and wife, Rae-Ann of The Woodlands, Texas, Michael Stillwagon of Boston, Mass. and Mary Stillwagon of Fort worth, Texas; great-grandchildren, Jamie and Kayla Fisher of Savannah, Ga., Conall Stillwagon of The Woodlands, Texas, Payton Heintze of Poguoson, Va., and Montana Jones of Ashburn, Va.; great-nieces, Sherry Barryman of South Portland, Lisa Wishart of Hollis, Tracy Britton of Los Angelos, Calif., Jill Britton of Portland; great-nephews, Danny Britton Jr. and Christopher Britton, both of Portsmouth, N.H. Family and friends may make donations in honor of Don Bickford to the Aroostook Pentecostal Campground Association, P.O. Box 1267, Presque Isle, ME 04769. A memorial service will be held on a date to be announced.
REV. DONALD H. BICKFORD
