WENDELL A. HANSCOM

ORRINGTON – Wendell A. Hanscom, 83, died March 15, 2010, surrounded by family at a Bangor health care center. He was born Jan. 10, 1927, in Brewer, to Bernice and Harry E. Hanscom Sr. He graduated from Brewer High School in 1944. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Japan during World War II in Company A, 800th Military Police Battalion. He was employed as a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service in Orrington for 35 years, retiring in 1982. He also worked many years as a carpenter building two family homes and many other projects. After retiring from the postal service, he drove an Orrington school bus for 10 years and was devoted to the students. He enjoyed many field trips with students, Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts, including planning and participating in many Center Drive School survival trips. He was a loyal and devoted volunteer and Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 44 for many years, enjoying countless camping trips and summer outings at Camp Roosevelt and was a member of Order of the Arrow, Brotherhood Membership. His greatest pleasure was planning and fundraising for the Boy Scouts’ Trip Never To Be Forgotten to the Grand Canyon in 1987. He volunteered many years for Orrington Conservation Commission. Wendell was a life member and past commander of Maurice W. Miles Post No. 4527, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Orrington Lodge No.35. Being an active member and past master of Enterprise Grange, P of H No. 173 for more than 67 years was very special to him. He was a member of the Maine State and National Rural Letter Carriers’ associations. Travel was a special part of Wendell and Carolyn’s life, visiting all 50 states, all Canadian provinces, Mexico and Europe. They wintered 16 years in Apache Junction, Ariz. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carolyn (Folsom) Hanscom; six sons and their wives, Mark and Rebecca of Orrington, Dale and Cindy of Greenville, Brian and Jill of Orrington, Alan and Lisa of Andover, N.H., Gregg and Catherine of Orrington, and Kevin and Jana of Orrington; 12 grandchildren, Jeffrey Hanscom and his wife, Christine, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Paul Hanscom and his wife, Angela, of Barrington, N.H., Steven Hanscom of Biddeford, Sara Maher-Loughnan and her husband, Dylan, of Cork, Ireland, Mandy Hanscom of Greenville and her fiance, Andy Papageorgiou, of Athens, Greece, Lee Hanscom of Bangor, Sally Malloy and her husband, Clash, of Hampden, Megan and Erin Hanscom of Andover, N.H., Charlie Hanscom of Orrington, Thomas and Darren Hanscom of Orrington; five great-grandchildren, Emily, Andrew, Joelle, Charlotte and Emily; one brother, Harry E. Hanscom Jr. and his wife, Judith, of Orrington; three sisters, Charleen Giffard of Orrington, Mary Hamilton and her husband, Dana, of Hermon, Beverly Rogers and her husband, Robert, of Orrington; one aunt, Leona Hartley of Okeechobee, Fla.; many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, George and Roland. The family thanks New England Home Health Care and Westgate Manor for the exceptional care provided by their staffs. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at Brookings-Smith, Clark-Piper Chapel, 55 South Main St., Brewer. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, March 19, at East Orrington Congregational Church with the Rev. Carl Schreiber officiating. Interment will be at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta, at a later date. Those who wish to remember Wendell in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Boy Scout Troop 44, care of East Orrington Congregational Church, 38 Johnson Mill Road, Orrington, ME 04474 or Enterprise Grange No. 173, 196 Swetts Pond Road, Orrington, ME 04474. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.