BELFAST – Rev. Willis P. Spaulding, Pastor Emeritus First Baptist Church, Belfast, beloved husband, father, grandfather and pastor died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, at home surrounded by his family. He was born Sept. 25, 1923, in Kuling, China, to the Rev. Leonidas and Clara Ferguson Spaulding. His family returned to the United States in 1927, and he grew up in Rhode Island as the eldest of four. He graduated from New England School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton, Mass., and earned a C.A.S. from the University of Maine. Willis and Janet Brown of Arlington, Mass. were married June 28, 1944, and served together in many pastorates including Kennebunk, Belfast, Stockton and Thorndike, Ipswich, Mass., hode Island and Aurora, Ill. He served as dean of students at Ricker College in Houlton and Aurora College in Illinois, and he was director of Eastern Maine Task Force on Aging in Bangor. Since retirement, he remained active in church leadership, serving on church boards and he especially enjoyed his role as the adult Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Belfast. Their home at Lakeview Farm in Swanville has been the setting for many celebrations of life. He, with Janet enjoyed generating creative ways of teaching and helping others develop personal abilities and talents. Willis was instrumental in bringing the ideas to fruition, which benefited many. A shared love of music was frequently expressed by spontaneous sing-a-longs, with Janet, children or grandchildren providing the accompaniment. Summertime found vacation Bible school children running through the fields from treehouses to the house for art, music and Bible learning. The Creative Learning Center evolved, reaching out into the local community and continues its influence still. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janet Spaulding; one sister, Barbara Foss of Wilmington, N.C.; five children, 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Calvin and Carolyn Spaulding Brown of Wells and their children, Gregory and Jodie of Maryland, David of Worcester, Mass., Wesley and Brandie and son, Emerson Wesley of South Berwick and Chloe of Wells; Cynthia Spaulding Rodgers of Hampden and children, Kristin of Seattle, Wash., Amy of Portland, Jonathan and Danielle of Georgetown, Mass. and Ashley of Hampden; Mark and Beverly Spaulding Kafkas of Gorham and children, Janet of Chicago, Ill., Mark of Topsham, Stephen of Wheaton, Ill. and Elizabeth, presently teaching in China; Willis (Chip) Spaulding Jr. and wife, Valerie, of Swanville, Jeffrey and Emily of Boston, Mass. and Kimberly of Swanville; Brice and Betheny Spaulding Moseley of Buxton, and children, Benjamin of Buxton, Betheny of Buxton and Semaj of Buxton. Other members of his extended family reside in Vernon, Vt. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at First Baptist Church of Belfast, followed by a time of fellowship. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missions program, First Baptist Church, High Street, Belfast, ME 04915.
REV. WILLIS P. SPAULDING
