DOVER-FOXCROFT – On Thursday, May 3, 2012, we said goodbye to a father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. Frederick Earl Moulen was born July 27, 1925, in Burlington, Vt. He was the eldest son of a family that included two brothers and eight sisters.
Soon after the flood of 1927 the family moved from Duxbury, Vt., to Old Orchard Beach. Growing up during the Depression as part of a family of 13 in Southern Maine required everyone to contribute an income. To “do his part” Fred worked on the pier, helped his mother and siblings assemble spring-loaded clothespins, and rode a bicycle with wooden rims and hollow rubber wheels filled with beach sand to deliver newspapers and eggs. Fred noted with a grin, “The sand would get wet, settle in the bottom then freeze over night. It would go kathunk, kathunk, kathunk for a mile or so until the sand finally thawed out.” Wanting to further help support his family, Fred left high school before graduating to attend a government-sponsored vocational program with one of his sisters at the start of World War II. He soon found himself maintaining the boiler on board an LSM 322, a troop landing ship in the Pacific Theater. “The scariest moment for me came when I suddenly found myself standing on a beach guarding 50 Japanese prisoners holding a gun I didn’t know how to use. The Marine guarding them needed to go to the bathroom, so he handed me his .45 and walked away. Before he came back one of the prisoners approached me and asked in perfect English if they could go to chow. I was happy to let them go.” Fred met his future wife, Claire Nadeau, on Old Orchard Beach when she “accidentally” hit him with a beach ball. He never stood a chance. Fred worked at Hathaway Shirt Co. for more than 30 years as a machinist occasionally repairing Claire’s sewing machine. They began their family in Fairfield, continued in Clinton and finally settled in Dover-Foxcroft. Fred did everything that Claire told him to do for more than 47 years until she passed away in 1999. Fred returned to school 17 years later in 1960 and earned a GED. His deference for education and his passion for reading transcribed to all four of his children earning degrees. Fred’s gentle nature and infinite patience with children were his most endearing qualities. The neighbors also appreciated these attributes because he was often willing to fill his 1972 red Volkswagen Van with hoards of chattering children and take them to Pat’s Dairyland for ice cream or to Sebec Lake to cool off on sweltering summer days. Fred enjoyed hunting, fishing, fly-tying, talking to his cat, laughing at
“Road Runner” cartoons and observing family interactions.
He lost his sisters, Gail, Jean, Jane and Barbara. He is survived by sisters, Marguerite, Francis and Marilee; brothers, Mathew and Thomas; children Cynthia, Earl, Stephen and Thomas; grandchildren, Anthony, Terri, Erin, Meagan, Raelyn, Jared and Hannah; great-grandchildren, Frederick, Samuel and the newest addition, Calvin, most of whom were by his side during his final moments.
The family is mourning Fred’s passing in private, but is celebrating his life in public. Friends, family and caregivers are invited to an event honoring Fred’s life Saturday, July 28, at Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft. We will be projecting photographs and sharing stories starting 1 p.m. Around 2 p.m. we will be having a potluck at the theater. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Center Theatre, where Fred enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren perform. These contributions, which may be made in advance or on the day of the event, will be used as tuition for a children’s summer theater camp. Please email Steve at fmoulen@gmail.com or Terri at terrimoulen@gmail.com if you plan to attend and what dish, if any, you are bringing. Dress is casual, which Fred would have greatly appreciated.