WOOLWICH – Lemuel Gilmore Stinson, 84, died Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick. He was born May 25, 1927, at the family farm in Woolwich, the youngest child of Everson C. and Ruby (Wheeler) Stinson.
He attended schools in Woolwich and Higgins Classical Institute, Charleston, before joining the Navy, Sept. 14, 1944. After his discharge in 1946, he was employed by Shell Oil in the Augusta area, where he met the love of his life, Frances Briggs of Auburn, a social worker for the state. Their marriage of 61 years began March 23, 1950, as they settled down in Auburn to begin their life together. That life was interrupted by the Navy in August, as Lemuel was recalled to serve during the Korean War. After discharge from the Navy in 1952, Lemuel began his career at Bath Iron Works, where he was employed as an outside machinist and boiler operator, retiring in 1980. He participated in many trial runs of newly built ships and delivery of ships to the U.S. Navy yard in Boston. Throughout his life he put his family’s welfare first, finding additional ways to earn and save; he enjoyed “wheeling and dealing,” and did so to take care of his family. Lemuel enjoyed the many summer camping trips with his family and after retirement, yard sales and selling at Montsweag Flea Market with his friend, Gene Bubar. He was a proud member of Ancient Brothers Lodge No. 178, receiving his 50-year pin in 2003.
Lemuel was predeceased by his two sisters, Leora Dyer and Lucille Reynolds; and by his two brothers, Lloyd and Clayton Stinson. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Frances (Briggs) Stinson of Woolwich; daughter, Christine Collamore and husband, David, and their children, David J., Aaron, Achsah, Adam and Michael, of Maine; daughter, Andrea Lebel and her husband, Gary, and their children, Christopher and Renee, of Georgia; son, Gregg Stinson of Woolwich; son, Glenn Stinson and children, Kyle and Thomas, of California, John and wife, Saori, and their family, Mika, Jonathan and Jasmine, of Las Vegas; and son, Everson and his wife, Gerri, of Corinth, and their children, Jennifer and her family, Rayshell and Julia, of Levant, Megan of Augusta, and Kathleen of New Hampshire. The family thanks Dr. David Hill and his staff for the care he provided to Lemuel and his family during his illness. We greatly appreciate all that you did for our dad.
Visiting hours will be held noon-2 p.m. Monday, June 13, at David E. Desmond Funeral Home, 638 High St., Bath, where a funeral service will begin 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations in Lemuel’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105 or Coastal Humane Society, Inc., 30 Range Road, Brunswick, ME 04011. To share your thoughts and condolences with Lemuel’s family, please visit
www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.