RICHARD B. GOULD SR.

FARMINGTON – Richard Beal Gould Sr., a lifelong resident of Farmington, passed away peacefully Oct. 19, 2008, in Waterville, after a brief illness. Son of Percy W. and Anna (Beal) Gould, he was born Aug. 23, 1916. At Farmington High School he was president of the student council and ranked third in his class. He graduated cum laude from Bates College in 1938. Mr. Gould began teaching at Farmington High School that fall and continued teaching physics and chemistry there, and at SAD 9 for 55 years. He taught three generations of many families and holds the record for teaching high school the longest in Maine. An athlete, Richard was a member of sport teams in high school and at Bates. Then he coached at the high school, with his track and ski teams becoming state champions. He inaugurated four-event skiing in Farmington by overseeing the cutting, without chainsaws, of the original 3 1/2 miles of cross country trails and the construction of the first ski jump at Titcomb Mountain. Recognition for this work included the induction into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame in 2006, and the year he turned 90 he was still cross-country skiing and playing tennis. He lived alone and continued his daily hour of exercises until last month. In addition to his teaching and coaching responsibilities, in 1941 he became part owner of the family vegetable canning business, Franklin Farms Products Co., which he operated through 1966. Richard Gould enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a passionate gardener and kept the freezer well stocked. Active in the community, Mr. Gould was a deacon and trustee of Old South Congregational Church. He was a director of First National Bank of Farmington for 27 years and a corporator of Franklin Savings Bank for more than 20 years. He was elected master of Maine Lodge AF & AM No. 20 from 1944 to 1945 and, when his mother was matron, he was patron of Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 143. In retirement Richard researched and gave talks to area historical societies and others. In addition to all these accomplishments, Richard was a kind, accepting, generous, self-disciplined, strong and calmly determined man who inspired many by how he lived his life. We are blessed to have had him in our lives. He was predeceased by his wife, Frances (Lancaster) Gould in 1958; and by his wife, Mary (Whitney) Gould in 1977; as well as by his brother, Douglas Gould; and his sister, Glenys Bean. He is survived by his five children and their families, Susanne G. Clark and husband, Ben, of Chilmark, Massachusetts, Janice G. Maxham and husband, Daniel, of Industry, Richard B. Gould Jr. and wife, Anne, of Skowhegan, Jay W. Gould and wife, Debby, of Holden and Scott W. Gould and wife, Marcy Murray, of South Burlington, Vt.; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his special friend, Katherine Mills. A celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m. Friday morning at Old South Congregational Church, Main Street, Farmington, with a family reception afterward in the church vestry hosted by the parish hospitality committee. Family and friends are invited to call 4-7 p.m. Thursday afternoon and evening at Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. Private family committal services will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Farmington. Gifts of remembrance may be sent to the charity of one’s choice or to Titcomb Ski Education Foundation, P.O. Box 135, West Farmington, ME 04992. Online condolences may be sent to his family via e-mail to info@wilesrc.com.