HARRINGTON – Richard Lee Strout, eldest son of Winslow S. Strout and Gladys (Grant), passed on to his heavenly home Feb. 15, 2012, from his home, after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was born Nov. 20, 1929, in Harrington.
After graduating from Harrington High School, where he was an outstanding athlete, making it to the Chapelle Wall of Fame as an All Tourney Standout in 1947, he enlisted in the Navy and served from 1948 to 1951 aboard the USS Fulton, a submarine tender out of Groton, Conn. He married and moved to Connecticut, and schooled as leadman for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. After his children were born he longed to rear them in the wholesome hometown atmosphere where he grew up, and the family moved to the Marshville Road in Harrington, where the patriarch of the Strouts of that area lived his dream. Richard enriched the lives of his children and grandchildren with his undivided attention to their growth and instilled in them honesty, his work ethic, spirituality and a zest for life. He groomed them in a love of athletics, hunting and water sports. He gloried in their accomplishments. Richard served on the school board and was a handyman at the library. Richard was married and baptized by his camp counselor, the Rev. Earl Bigalow. For the past 38 years Richard has faithfully attended Unionville Church of God.
Richard is survived by his wife, Gweneth; daughters, Karen A. Nelson and husband, Clinton, of Machiasport and Denise L. Vose and husband, Jeffrey, of Columbia; grandson, Lucas Wallace of Harrington; granddaughter, April Wallace of New Jersey; sisters, Doris and husband, Fred Gagne, of Mechanic Falls and Jenny Ganiel and husband, Carl, of Harrington; sisters-in-law, Laura Strout and Beverly Anderson, both of Harrington, and Rose Davis of Gouldsboro; two special aunts, Joanna Strout of Milbridge and Jennie Crooker and husband, Harold, of Massachusetts; many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Stanley and Irvin; sisters-in-law, Norita Strout, Sarah Standwood, Naomi Anderson and Ruth Faulkingham; and brothers-in-law, Fred Davis and Charles Faulkingham.
Pastor Charles Kelley will take part in a celebration of Richard’s life 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Harrington Elementary School gymnasium. A time for refreshments and visitation will be after the service. In Richard’s memory, those who wish may contribute to a sports scholarship to send a deserving boy or girl to summer camp for baseball, softball or basketball: Strout Sports Camp Fund donations, care of Bar Harbor Banking & Trust, P.O. Box 116, Milbridge, ME 04658 or collected at any branch.