HOULTON – William Robert Lynds 83, passed away Jan. 28, 2005, at a local hospital. He was born March 25, 1921, at Monticello, the son of John and Zena (Lockard) Lynds. “Willie” grew up in Monticello and at the young age of 13 1/2 he started driving truck loads of potatoes to Bucksport. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and during this time he married Janet Brewer on Jan. 24, 1942. Janet was his life long partner in life and business. Upon his discharge from the military, Willie was a long haul truck driver. In 1957, Willie started building farm equipment in his two-car garage which later became Lynds’ Machine Shop. He was known throughout New England and parts of Canada for his mechanical genius, building the first rock picker in the State of Maine. Willie working with a local farmer who owned the first potato harvester in Aroostook fabricated an Air system which is now known as the Airharvester and used through out the country today. He was known for his ability to build and repair any kind of equipment and he was often consulted from various companies such as Lockwood, Inc. on the design of farming equipment. In 1960, Willie became the first snowmobile dealer in the State of Maine selling Bombadier snowmobiles. The first snowmobile he ever sold has been donated to the Cole Transportation Museum in Bangor. In 1982, Willie and Janet sold Lynds’ Machine Shop and enjoyed traveling early in their retirement years. Willie enjoyed creating wood projects in his workshop and visiting with his friends and family. He was a very kind and generous man and in his quiet way, loved helping any who were in need. Willie will be missed by his wife, Janet (Brewer) Lynds of Houlton; his daughters and sons-in-law, Corrine Bongiovanni and Donald Sipe of Auburn, Maryadele and Reginald Grant of Windham, Carolyn and Joseph Cheney of Presque Isle; his grandchildren, Lyndsey Cheney Maynard and her husband, Jonathan, of Rocky Mount, N.C., Cale Grant of Windham; his great-grandson, Jackson Maynard of Rocky Mount, N.C.; his sisters, Dorothy Hansen of Westbrook, Shirley Lenentine and her husband, Stuart, of Monticello; his former son-in-law, Robert Bongiovanni and his wife, Lisa, of Winslow; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Mike, Harold, Donald, Benjamin, James, Merlin, Arthur, Dean and Cora. Friends may call at the Dunn Funeral Home, Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home Monday 10 a.m. with Rev. Dale Holden, officiating. Gifts may be made in Willie’s memory to the Houlton Humane Society care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.
WILLIAM ‘WILLIE’ R. LYNDS
