WILLIAM NORTON BAXTER

VERONA ISLAND – William Norton Baxter died Sept. 20, 2006, at a Bangor health care facility with his family by his side. He was born Nov. 30, 1928, in Anson, the son of Laurence James Baxter and Edna Mac (Cates) Baxter. The family moved to Bucksport in 1930. He graduated from Bucksport High School in 1947, and joined the U.S. Army in 1947, with service in Korea serving in the finance departments while in Korea and at Fort Dix, N.J. Upon discharge in 1949, he attended Husson College, graduating in 1951, with the Husson Scholastic Award in accounting and auditing. In 1961 he joined the 101st ADW Maine Air National Guard, where he was commissioned as 1st lieutenant, responsible for installing the first IBM equipment in this area. At the time of his retirement in 1981, he held the position of wing comptroller. Having com-pleted more than 22 years of service in the U.S. Army, the Air Force Reserve and the Maine Air National Guard, Major Baxter retired Dec. 30, 1981, and was appointed to the grade of lieutenant colonel, Maine Air National Guard, retired. Bill served as liaison officer for the U.S. Air Force Academy from 1975 to 1978, visiting area high schools. Bill was a member of the Elm Street Congregational Church, active as a deacon, auditor, moderator, finance committee, church council and a director of the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ. Bill served as selectman of Verona for 20 years, retiring in March 1990. He also served as tax collector, treasurer, moderator, on the economic development committee, budget committee, SAD director, planning board, appeals board and the town hall committee. Bill was very involved with the Verona Recreation Club that started in the 1970s. He was a past member of the Association Board of Directors at Beal Business College; member of DPMA Advisory Committee to State Department Education-Secondary Schools; and member of CED EDP certificate review committee. He was an accounting instructor for the UMO Continuing Education Division. After graduating from Husson, he joined St. Regis Paper Co. in their IBM department, in 1952 and Eastern Corporation in 1958, where he installed the first commercial computer in Eastern Maine. In 1965, he installed the first computer for the Dead River Co. At Merrill Bank, in 1973, he was in charge of sales for computer services. Bill purchased PAGEmployment in 1971 and started full-time work there in 1975. He was financial advisor for Seaboard Security Inc., the sister company of PAGEmployment, Inc., which is owned by his wife, Gerry. Bill was the executive producer of My Video Productions, a company that videotapes and broadcasts local events on cable television. MVP was founded based on Bill’s belief that those moments and memories in life should be treasured. Community activities included are, United Way campaign chairman; director and budget panel chairman; Bucksport Civic Club president; director for the National Association of Accountants; member of the Bangor Lions Club, since 1968 and the Greater Bangor Chamber of Commerce; and chairman of the Transportation Committee. Bill was one of the founding directors of the Eastern Maine Tennis Association; director and vice president of Indoor Tennis; and a long-standing member of the Professional Sales Club of Bangor. Additional memberships included, the Fort Knox committee; past president of the Calico Squares; board of directors for the Seaboard Federal Credit Union; and a member in good standing of the Felicity Lodge No. 19 AF & AM, Bucksport; and the Lodge Council Chapter, Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Bangor. Bill was a life member of the Bucksport Historical Society, the National Rifle Association, the Maine Genealogical Society and a Dedimus Justice, a lifetime appointment by Gov. Kenneth Curtis. Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Geraldine C. Baxter; four children, Scott W. Baxter and his wife, Linda, of Brewer, Lynn B. Jacques and her husband, Tom, of Georgia, Gail B.Creath and her husband, Irving, of Holden and Eric J. Baxter and his wife, Pamela, of Orrington; grandchildren, Mark W. Baxter and his wife, Lisa, of Mapleton, Laura F. Baxter of Brewer, Scott T. Jacques of Missouri, Stephen S. Baxter and his wife, Mindy, of New York, Robert W. Jacques of Georgia and Hannah M. Baxter of Orrington; great-granddaughter, Madison of New York; stepgrandchildren, Ivan Creath of Oklahoma and Carrie C. Newey and her husband, Mike and their son, Gunnar, of Winterport. Bill was predeceased by his mother in 1945; and his father in 1970. There will be no visiting hours. A private graveside service will be held with the Rev. Robert T. Carlson, of Husson College, officiating. Interment will be at Riverview Cemetery, North Bucksport. Funeral arrangements are being made by Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lions Club Charities, P.O. Box 237, Bangor, ME 04402 or Elm Street Congregational Church, P.O. Box 878, Bucksport, ME 04416 or Husson College Alumni Association, One College Circle, Bangor, ME 04401.