YARMOUTH and FIRST ROACH POND – Vernon LaForest Philbrook, 92, died Sunday, June 24, 2007, after a brief period of failing health. He was born Dec. 12, 1914, on Matinicus Island, the son of Flora (Ames) and LeRoy Philbrook. He attended Matinicus schools and graduated from South Portland High School. After serving in the Coast Guard, Vernon worked as a machinist at Bath Iron Works during World War II. After the war, Vernon returned to Mat-inicus, where he was a lobsterman and co-owned Henry Young and Co., and Matinicus general store, with Clayton Young. In 1978, Vernon and his wife, Grace, purchased a camp on First Roach Pond, Frenchtown Township, north of Greenville. Here they spent six months each summer for the next 23 years where they thoroughly enjoyed their retirement and making new friends. One of Vernon’s greatest passions was his membership in the Masons, which he joined in Bath and continued to attend meetings in Bath, Greenville and Yarmouth, for the next 60 years. Vernon is survived by daughters, Verna P. Chamberlain of Otisfield and Wilma Bridges of Yarmouth; grandchildren, Daniel Lewis of Matinicus, Stephanie Lewis of Cambridge, Scott Bridges of Dublin, Ohio, as well as several great-grandchildren. Vernon was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Grace W. Philbrook; and his eldest daughter, Patricia A. Lewis. The funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, June 29, at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Burial will be held after at Riverside Cemetery, Yarmouth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vernon’s memory to Matinicus Congregational Church, care of Jamine Tinker, Matinicus, ME 04851.
VERNON PHILBROOK
