HAMPDEN – Errol Keith Dow, 86, passed away peacefully April 4, 2012, at a Bangor nursing facility. Keith was born Oct. 13, 1925, in Mapleton, the ninth child of Marley and Mae (Ridgewell) Dow.
Keith graduated from Mapleton High School in 1943 before enlisting in the U.S. Navy that same year. He served in the Pacific, mostly on the USS Gosselin APD No. 126 as a gunner’s mate second class. After his discharge in 1946 he married Barbara Kierstead June 13, 1946. After two daughters, Gayle Mae and Kathy Lynn, filled an apartment, they bought and renovated a country grade school in Castle Hill, where daughter Ruthanne Janice completed the trio. Keith worked for farmers until he started on the job training in parts with Farrer Brown Co., changing later to International Harvester and lastly Leadbetter International. After retirement he was employed at Frost’s Garage Inc., Hampden. He moved from Mapleton in 1967 to Clinton and then Hampden in 1969.
Keith is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara; his daughter, Ruthanne Frost and husband, Ivan “Buzz,” all of Hampden; son-in-law, Richard Boutot and wife, Louise, of Carmel; his sister, Muriel Nelson of Dexter; sister-in-law, Janice E. Baughman and her husband, William, of York, Pa.; sister-in-law, Maureen Kierstead of Mapleton; grandchildren, Timothy Eiler and wife, Jennifer, Lauara Eiler, Rebecca Eiler Brennerman and husband, Phillip, Denise Boutot Hall and husband, Robin, Michelle Boutot Gaboriault and husband, John, Jeremy Boutot and wife, Beth, Debbie Frost and husband, Steve, Jeffery Frost, Tammy Frost Albert and husband, Ryan, and K. Brad Frost and wife, Anna, as well as several special great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Keith was predeceased by his parents; his daughters, Kathy L. Boutot and Gayle M. Eiler and her husband, John Eiler, brothers; Leland, Wendell, Edwin, Arnold and Elwood; sisters, Evelyn, Doris and Althea; several special brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Family and friends may visit 4-7 p.m. Monday, April 9, at Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at Hampden Congregational Church, UCC, 101 Main Road North, Hampden, with the Rev. William Walsh officiating. Interment with military honors will be immediately after the funeral at Lakeview Cemetery, Hampden. Those who wish may make memorial contributions in Keith’s honor to Mapleton Baptist Church, P.O. Box 190, Mapleton, ME 04757 or Hampden Congregational Church, UCC, P.O. Box 9, Hampden, ME 04444. Messages of condolence and memories may be shared through
www.hampdengilpatrick.com.