SURRY – Philip Russell Lincoln, 87, died Jan. 25, 2009, at an Ellsworth health care facility. He was born March 11, 1921, in Dennysville, the son of Albert Robinson and Marcia R. (Anderson) Lincoln. He lived a long and happy life, and was dedicated to his career, community service, his family and gardens. His family traveled a lot during his childhood and he attended schools in Pennsylvania; North Carolina; Minnesota; and Portland, Ore., following his father’s work as a concrete engineer. After his mother’s death in 1932, the family returned to New England living for a time in Rutland, Mass., with an uncle, Don and Amelia Lincoln, and then moved to Brewer with an aunt and uncle, Emery and Mary Folsom, where he attended Brewer High School for one year. They then moved to Jonesboro to his maternal grandparent’s home, Olaf and Agnes Anderson, where he graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1937 and attended Gates Business College, Augusta, in 1938. He worked for Gay Bros., Jonesboro, where he had many dear friends. He then became employed as a dispatcher for the Maine State Police. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard serving in Providence and Boston before being assigned to a troop transport, the Robert L. Howze, being assembled at Naval Supply Depot, Oakland, Calif. There he met and married his wife of 63 years, Barbara Testerman. Returning to Boston in 1945, he was assigned to the clothing locker at Constitution Wharf, retiring in 1946 as chief storekeeper. Returning to Maine, he enlisted in the Maine State Police as a trooper. They lived in Mount Vernon while he served in Augusta and Skowhegan, Troop C. Rising through the ranks as trooper, sergeant and lieutenant, and retired as captain in 1963. Philip joined the Masons, Mount Vernon and was a 32 degree Mason; was past master and Eastern Star and past worthy patron. He worked four years for Cole’s Express, Bangor, and joined Anah Shrine. He later became chief of police in Newington, Conn., in 1968 and retired in 1981, and then became chief of Bloomfield Police Department for four years, retiring again in 1985. During those years he joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Newington, Conn., and the Rotary, Bloomfield, Conn. They returned to live in Surry in 1985. Philip worked part-time as a code enforcement officer from 1990 to 1997. He then devoted himself to gardening, camping, hunting and fishing as his declining health permitted. Philip is survived by his devoted wife, Anna Barbara; children, Marcia Zephyr, Russell Foster and wife, Rebecca, Mark Whitney and wife, Peggy, and Nels Thomas and wife, Debbie; grandchildren, Tanya, Albert, Michelle, Heather, Aaron, Jaime, Jason, Anna Nichole, Kelli, Brad, Drew and Wes; 16 great-grandchildren; and sister, Agnes Ellen Gilbert of Iowa. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Contributions in Philip’s memory may be made to Vernon Valley Lodge No. 99, 353 Pond Road, Mount Vernon, ME 04352 or Anah Shrine, P.O. Box 735, Bangor, ME 04401. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth, ME. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
PHILIP RUSSELL LINCOLN
