MASARDIS – Harold “Had” Robinson, 84, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, after a 15 month battle with kidney failure. He remained at home with his wife and family. Had was born Nov. 9, 1924, to Ellery S. and Jennie A. Sholler Patchell Robinson, in a one-room schoolhouse at the Ashland town line. Family included Walter Patchell, Monroe, Pauline, Lillian, Glynn, Vernon and Chester. He walked six and one half miles to high school in Masardis for two years and graduated from Ashland High School in 1943. He worked on his father’s farm and for Newl Smith in the potato house. He married Alice Snow, Dec. 28, 1944, and then went into the Army, Jan. 15, 1945. Harold started working for Bangor and Aroostook Railroad in April 1947 and worked there for 37 years and eight months. His job took him from Searsport to Madawaska and on his last day of work he pitched his dinner pail into the woods. Harold was a member of the American Legion, lifetime member of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way as well as VFW Post No. 9699 of Ashland. He proudly rode in the parade in Masardis on Memorial Day, 2009. He served as Sunday school superintendent of Rockwell Baptist Church, Masardis, and enjoyed giving everyone a ride to church that needed one. He was a member of 864 Aviation Engineers from the 27th Infantry Division of Okinawa, Japan, and attended reunions in South Carolina and New Mexico. He recently organized reunions for retired railroad workers. Harold was an avid reader, he especially enjoyed Westerns and history. He loved to travel, especially to the coast and Canada, taking the grandchildren along and letting them drive. Because he was a people person, he often could run into people he knew when he traveled. He was a master at woodworking, creating many cedar chests, canoe paddles, and other furniture items for people’s homes. The couple enjoyed many happy hours at their camp called Spruce Lodge, hunting, camping, and just getting away from it all. His beloved black lab, Princess, was a faithful companion for 15 1/2 years before passing away in June 2009. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Alice; a daughter, Hallie McKee and her son, Jason Barlett; a daughter, Joan Whipple and her husband, Donald, their children, Dawn and her husband, Philip Roberts, Robbin Whipple and Pam Bennett; great-grandchildren, Katherine Roberts, Amanda Whipple, Blake Vincent and Hunter Whipple; many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Mapleton Baptist Church with the Rev. Donald Morton officiating. Relatives and friends may call 1:30 p.m. until the time of service at the church. Those who wish may donate in his memory to Baptist Park, care of Ellie Thomas, P.O. Box 498, Mapleton, ME 04757. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle. Condolences may be expressed at www. duncan-graves.com.
HAROLD ‘HAD’ ROBINSON
