ZEPHYRHILLS – Col. Roscoe C. Tibbetts, 83, of Zephyrhills, FL passed away on March20, 2013. Roscoe was born in Bangor. He lived in Hampden the majority of his life, moving permanently to Florida in 1996. For many years he worked side by side with his father, Clyde, at Tibbetts Auto, a family business. In 1951, Roscoe enlisted in the Army during the Korean War conflict as a member of the 11th Airborne Division. That same year he married his first wife, Beatrice (Bruce) Tibbetts and together they raised 2 children, Linda Lee and Bruce Wayne. He spent 2 years active duty in the Army and joined the National Guard in 1954, receiving his commission in 1956.
In 1972, he married his second wife, Denise (Roy) Tibbetts. Together they developed the Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio in Brewer, ERA Hampden Realty and Academy Hill Apartments in Hampden. They spent many leisure hours on board their sailboats and trawler, sailing the Maine coastline and sailing the waterways between Maine and Florida several times. In 1996, they retired permanently and moved to Florida. After many years of boating, they sold their trawler and purchased their motorhome. Roscoe and Denise travelled extensively throughout the continental United States, Alaska, and Canada, participating in motorhome rallies wherever they went. In 2000, Roscoe built their final home and they settled in Zephyrhills.
Roscoe served his communities as a board member of Hampden Academy, actively participated in the Hampden Kiwanis and Jaycees, the Hampden Rifle and Pistol Club. He was a past Master Mason of the Mystic Lodge #65. In 1991, he was voted Commodore of the Harborside Yacht Club in S.Pasadena, FL.
Throughout his life he remained an active member of the Army National Guard, retiring as a Colonel in 1989. Roscoe served in several staff and commander positions, completing his 32 year career as Commander of the Maine Army Guard’s 240th Engineer Group, one of the state’s two major Army Guard commands.
He is survived by his loving wife, Denise, of Zephyrhills, his daughter, Linda Whinery of Zephyrhills, FL and Bangor and a son Bruce Tibbetts and his wife Luann of Dover-Foxcroft, his three step-children Thomas Masson and his wife, Audrey of Las Vegas, NV, Sandra McDonald of Tuscon, AZ and Wayne Masson and his partner, Chuck of Key West, FL. He was blessed with 8 grand-children: Rebecca, Shawn, Matthew, Melissa, Molly, Aaron, Ashley and Jaime as well as 8 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
He was pre-deceased by his father and mother, Clyde and Avis (Crockett) Tibbetts, his sister, Cynthia Fielding and first wife Beatrice Tibbetts. He will be sadly missed by his special friends at American Condominium Park where he resided.
He will be laid to rest in a private service at the Maine Veteran’s Cemetery in Augusta at a later date.
Roscoe C. Tibbetts
