CORINTH – Sterling C. “Randy” Ellison, 81, died Dec. 22, 2011. He was born May 5, 1930, in Chicago, to Geraldine (France) and Sterling Ellison.
When his father died, Randy was only 3 years old. His grandfather, France, traveled by train to take him, his mother and older sister, Patricia, back to Cheboygan, Mich., to live. Times were hard during the Depression years and when he was real young he peddled newspapers on the streets of Cheboygan, Mich., for 3 cents each. Later his mother married Edward Herron and they had two children, Nancy and Teddy. His stepfather moved the family to Vancouver, Wash., where Randy graduated from high school at the top of his class. He joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War, rising to the rank of master sergeant. Before accepting the position in the paper mill, he worked for A&P Railroad in the roundhouse. He later accepted a job with a paper mill in Vancouver, Wash.
Randy had such an intelligent mind that he soon rose to the position of paper mill superintendent. He traveled to Puerto Rico and coast to coast in the U.S., any where a paper mill was in trouble, he was sent to train the workers and to increase production. Randy’s last paper mill before retirement was Georgia Pacific, Baileyville. After retirement, he moved his wife and son to Bangor. After moving to Bangor he took a couriers job, delivering medical supplies and bank deposits for Uniship. He held the couriers job for 10 years and was their oldest employee at the time, until Parkinson’s disease took its toll and he could no longer drive. Randy lived and loved life to the fullest. He loved taking walks, playing his guitar, playing cards and having coffee with all his friends in Corinth. His passing leaves a big hole in many lives.
He was predeceased by his father, Sterling Ellison; mother and stepfather, Geraldine (France) and Edward Herron; half brother, Teddy; special brother-in-law, Kenneth “Pid” Wheelock; and special mother-in-law, Esther Wheelock. Randy is survived by his wife and soul mate of 40 years, Madeline “Maggie” Wheelock Ellison of Corinth; stepsons he took as his own, Karl D. Smith and partner, Debbie, of Corinth, and Richard Smith and wife, Alora, of Florida; precious grandkids, Stephanie and Stephen of Florida, Adam, Erin and Emily Smith of Corinth; stepgranddaughters, Jessie Cox of Florida and Missy Cox of Pembroke; great-grandchildren, Beau Brown of Florida, Rylie Smith of Georgia, Kylie and Lane of Pembroke; two special ladies, the mothers of his grandchildren, Kimberly Smith of Corinth and Debbie Smith of Greenbush; two sisters, Patricia Koethe of Vancouver, Wash., and Nancy Ryle of New Jersey; his guitar playing buddy and brother-in-law, Earl Wheelock of Machias; many nieces and nephews, friends at the coffee shop in Corinth, Uniship, and his card playing buddies. Randy was a member of the Masons and Order of Elks of Bangor; Brewer Eagles Club; American Legion Post, Orono; and Leweys Island AF & AM Lodge, Princeton. His big hearty laugh will be missed by all.
Interment will be held in the spring at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements by Greenlawn Funeral Director’s, Bangor.