WATERVILLE – Robert Arnold Besaw Sr., 85, died early Sunday morning, Aug. 16, 2009, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Waterville. He was born March 1, 1924, in Bath, to William E. and M. Margaret Miller Besaw. Bob was educated in Bath schools and graduated from Morse High School in 1942. He was a four-sport athlete. He practiced for football while he was supposed to be taking violin lessons. Bill and Margaret didn’t learn this until he suffered a concussion. His parents didn’t agree with his choice, but never missed a game after that. While at Morse High School he met the love of his life, Frances Roberta Lowery. Fran stole him from another girl, because he was so cute. They were married June 3, 1944, in Bath. In 1945, Bob joined the Army and was sent to Europe in 1946. While there he served with the 133rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery of the 3rd Army and served at Buchenwald and Nuremberg. He returned to work at Hyde Windlass Co. after his discharge. He was active on their rifle team, softball team and learned to play golf with Mr. Hyde. Golf became a lifelong passion. He considered Tiger Woods a great athlete, but his favorite was Arnold Palmer. He and Fran were members of the Skating Club at Bowdoin College and performed in many of the shows. He was featured as the King of Siam during the club’s production of the King and I. They continued their skating at Colby when they moved to Waterville. Bob and the family moved to Waterville in 1966, so he could take a position as molding machine specialist with Keyes Fibre. He traveled the world for Keyes setting up machines in plants from Norway to South Africa and Mexico to Australia. He was a wonderful cook and photographer. When Bob returned from his trips his photos were as likely to be of the local cuisine along with the scenes of the country. He was particularly proud of a photo taken in South Africa of a bull elephant charging his car during a safari. Bob retired from Keyes Fibre in the 1980s and spent his time enjoying his family, golf and the Boston Red Sox. In addition to his wife, Fran, he is survived by his sister, Edna Franz and her husband, Kenneth, of Fairlawn, N.J.; daughter, Margaret “Peggy” Marcoux of Winslow; son, Robert A. Besaw Jr. and his wife, Anne, of Owls Head; daughter, Lori E. London and her husband, Kent, of North Vassalboro; grandchildren, Larry R. Marcoux of Oxford, Mass., Sherry (Marcoux) Corey and her husband, James, of Scarborough, Debbie (Marcoux) Davis and her husband, Tony, of China, Maine, Katrina (Besaw) Newton and her husband, Rusty, of Old Orchard Beach, Lindsey (Besaw) Bissell and her husband, Mike, of Scarborough, and Ross London of North Vassalboro; and great-grandchildren, Emilia Corey, Samantha and Brianna Newton, and Ryland Bissell. Visiting hours will be held 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Redington Funeral Home, 5 Park St., Waterville, where a service will begin 10 a.m. Interment will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oak Grove Cemetery, Bath. Memorial gifts may be made to Morse High School Alumni, Class of 1942; or Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area, P.O. Box 200, Waterville, ME 04903-0200 or www.hvwa.org.
ROBERT ARNOLD BESAW SR.
