FORT FAIRFIELD and CONTOOCOOK, N.H. – William T. “Bill” Van Buskirk Sr., 90, husband of the late Norma R. (Bubar) Van Buskirk, passed away Monday morning, Oct. 25, 2010, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Lester Milton Sr., in Contoocook, N.H., after an extended illness. He was born July 21, 1920, in Easton, the second child of four and the only son of Edgar and Velma (Partridge) Van Buskirk. He attended Easton and Fort Fairfield schools. In his younger years, Bill was engaged in the farming industry with his father. He enlisted in the Maine Army National Guard 152nd Field Artillery Battalion at age 19. In 1941, he was deployed with the Battery to Camp Blandings in Florida, for further training, after, which he was transferred overseas in 1943 and became part of Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army. In 1947, he returned to the U.S. after serving four years in the European Theatre of Operations. On March 14, 1949, he married Norma Bubar of Fort Fairfield, who became his wife of 61 years. For several years he was owner and operator of Bill’s Taxi Service, Fort Fairfield, and later became employed by Fort Fairfield Fire Department, advancing to the rank of chief until his retirement in 1985, after 30 years of service. After his retirement as fire chief, he became the Fort Fairfield Animal Control officer for 12 years. Bill was a member of Maine Fire Chiefs Association, Fort Fairfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul Lockhart Post No. 6187, and was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fort Fairfield. His greatest pastime was playing cards with his family and friends at Fort Fairfield Fire House. In addition to his parents, Mr. Van Buskirk was predeceased by his wife, Oct. 2, 2010; one sister, Marie Bragdon and her husband, Meredith; and one sister, Clara Porcello. He is survived by one son, William T. Van Buskirk Jr. and his wife, Sylvia, of Brewer; one daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Lester Milton of Contoocook, N.H.; six grandchildren, Tobin Van Buskirk of Brewer, Lester Milton Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, Angela Gordon and her husband, David, all of New Hampshire, Dawn Mihelis and her husband, Nathan, of Massachusetts, Missy Michaud of Presque Isle, and Carl Katrina of Alabama; one sister and brother-in-law, Tressa and Donald Hetherington of Fort Fairfield; one brother-in-law, James Porcello of Connecticut; one nephew, William Bragdon of Bangor; and seven great-grandchildren. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield. The funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 Main St., Fort Fairfield, with the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith officiating. Interment will take place after the service at Riverside Cemetery, Fort Fairfield. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will be held immediately after the interment service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall. Those who wish may contribute in Bill’s memory to the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church memorial fund, care of Gloria Towle, P.O. Box 737, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 or Central Aroostook Humane Society, 26 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. <
WILLIAM T. VAN BUSKIRK SR.
