HOLDEN and DEXTER – Ralph E. Tetu, 89, passed away May 2, 2012, at Maine Veterans Home, Bangor. Ralph was born Feb. 18, 1923, in Waterville, son of Thomas and Sadie (Poulin) Tetu.
He was raised in a convent in Lewiston until age 12, and then moved to Guilford to live with his father and stepmother. He eventually moved to Dexter and worked at his father’s filling station. He graduated from N.H. Fay High School, class of 1943. He joined the Air Force that same year and became a waist gunner on a B-17, flying missions during World War II. Ralph’s plane was shot down on his 18th mission and he became a prisoner of war until his liberation in 1945. After the war, he returned to Dexter and married his high school sweetheart, Constance Goulette, June 14, 1947. Ralph worked at Fayscott Machine shop and later for the Dexter Postal Service until his retirement. Even today he is fondly remembered as a caring and kind postman. He was a 60-year member of American Legion Post 53, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and American Ex-Prisoners of War. After retirement, Ralph and Connie wintered in Florida. Ralph enjoyed the warm weather in Florida, but truly loved his summers at his camp in Ripley, and spending time with his family. He was always “puttering” and trying to fix something that was broken. When the Internet came about, he was one of the firsts to buy a computer and try his hand at it. He loved looking up information and keeping in contact with family and friends through email. He made the effort to contact his flight crew from World War II and maintained a lifelong connection with those that remained. Ralph had an infectious smile and personality that captured the hearts of everyone who knew him.
Ralph is survived by his son, Thomas and wife, Carmen Tetu, of Edgecomb; daughters, Rita and husband, Dick Hitchcock, of Dexter, and Jayne and husband, Colan Davis, of Holden; sister, Doris Gregory of Waterville; sister-in-law, Frances Tetu of Skowhegan; grandchildren, Ryan Tetu, Carrie White, Alyson Saunders, Megan Hitchcock and Summer Andrews; and eight great-grandchildren. Ralph was predeceased by his wife, Connie, in August 2011; son, Michael, in 1971; and brothers, Leo, Roger and Norman. The family wishes to thank Maine Veterans Home for their loving care of our father.
Relatives and friends may call 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Crosby & Neal, 61 Main St., Dexter. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Dexter. Burial will be after at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the activities department at Maine Veterans Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401. For an online guest register, go to
www.CrosbyNeal.com.