RICHARD B. COUSINS SR.

OLD TOWN – Lt. Col. Richard B. Cousins Sr., 91, U.S. Army retired, loving husband of Bernice Littlefield Cousins, died peacefully Oct. 23, 2008, surrounded by his family, at his home. He was born March 4, 1917, in Old Town, son of Edgar F. Cousins and Arline Brown Cousins. Dick attended Old Town schools, graduating in the Class of 1935. He attended Reed College, Portland, Ore.; University of Florence, Florence, Italy; and Army Officer Candidate School. In 1945 he was assigned as executive officer of the DTC in Italy. In 1947 he served as commanding officer of Company A, 304th Division and then of the 428th Civil Affairs Company, Bangor. Dick served for five years as treasurer of the Retired Officers Association. He was a life member of Old Town United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school. He was a leader of Boy Scout Troop No. 72, president of the YMCA, member of the Star of the East Lodge AM & FM of Old Town, Scottish Rites and Anah Temple Shrine, Bangor. He served on Old Town City Council and served as mayor from 1962 to 1963. He was employed by Penobscot Chemical Fiber Co., and founder and president of Consolidated Supply Co., for 25 years, retiring in 1982. In addition to his devoted wife of 67 years, he is survived by his four children, Arline Seavey and her husband, Wayne, of South Addison, Richard Cousins Jr. and his wife, Kathleen, of Milford, Robert Cousins and his wife, Judy, of Bass Harbor and John Cousins and his wife, Mary Ann, of Bangor; by 17 loving grandchildren, Dianne Berube, Dan Cousins, David Cousins, Julie Hotham, Barbara Snowden, Mark Snowden, Kate Seavey, Doug Seavey, John Cousins IV, Mike Cousins, Don Davis, Cassiar Cousins, Chantrelle Cousins, Amethyst Cousins, Justice Cousins, Jeremia Cousins and Jasper Cousins; and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Edgar Cousins and his wife, Nancy, of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Herbert Cousins and his wife, Rita Ann, of Sarasota, Fla.; one sister, Florence Weeks of Topsham and Southwest Harbor; several cousins, nieces and nephews. Dick was predeceased by one brother, John Cousins II; and one sister, Edith Parker. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. Services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Old Town Methodist Church with the Rev. Joan DeSanctis officiating. Interment with military honors will be afterward at Lawndale Cemetery. Donations in Dick’s memory may be made to Hospice of Eastern Maine, 885 Union St., Bangor, ME 04401 or Hospice of Hancock County, 14 McKenzie Ave., Ellsworth, ME 04605. Notes of condolences may be made at www.mem.com.