UNITY – Rodney Wayne McElroy, 81, passed away June 6, 2013. Rod was born July 7, 1931, in the Clifford/Brown homestead, atop Santa Claus Hill in Reed Plantation, Wytopitlock, son of Chester Noonan McElroy and Beula Evelyn Brown.
Rod attended schools in Patten and Snohomish, Wash., graduating from Patten Academy with the class of 1950. He was proud to have served his country, 1951-1955, during the Korean Conflict as a member of the U.S. Air Force. During semester break in January of 1959 he married Gloria D. Doering and18 month old son, George. Gloria and Rod soon had three more sons, Kevin Keith, Mark Ross and Jeffrey Wayne McElroy, each being a special loving joy to them. He entered the University of Maine in 1955, graduating in 1959 with his bachelors degree, later returning to the University of Maine for his masters degree and certificate of advance study from the same institution. Rod spent many years of his life in various positions that he truly enjoyed, primarily working with young people starting in 1959 at Brownville Junior High School, Brownville, then to Mattanawcook Academy, Lincoln, then in SAD No. 3 where he was the first guidance counselor at Mount View High School then becoming principal in 1967, a position he truly enjoyed, and finally serving as superintendent of SAD No. 3 for 10 years before leaving public education to work as a training supervisor at Great Northern Paper Company. Later Rod served two terms, 1994-1998, in the Maine House of Representatives. He often said that working with a group of young people was far more satisfying and generally more productive. The time spent with family and friends at their Shin Pond camp was the most enjoyable days of his life, made even more significant when his grandchildren were there. He loved them dearly and certainly appreciated the important parts they played in his life. During his life Rod was involved in various education associations, the Masonic Lodge No. 98, Patten, and other community and social organizations including Unity Barn Raisers, Unity Cemetery Committee, Unity Planning Board, Maine Retired Teachers Association, Maine Genealogy Association and American Legion. Rod always felt that his life was one of rewards and good fortune full of good friends, super neighbors, colleagues and loving family.
Rod leaves his loving wife of 54 years, Gloria; four sons, George and wife, Donna, and their children, David and Kelly, Kevin and his attention to family togetherness, Mark and wife, Christine, and their sons, Drew and Scott, Jeffrey and wife, Amy, and their children, Jake, Kimmie and Brian; two special aunts, Bernice Brown of Wytopitlock and Betty Lent of East Millinocket; niece, Tori Glidden; nephew, Glen Glidden and family; and good friends and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bud and Betty Heal of East Millinocket. Also included are various brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and many cousins and friends throughout the country. He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Keith; sister, Marilyn Glidden; a special uncle, Ted Brown; friend and uncle, John T. Lent; along with many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Memorial services will be held 3 p.m. Thursday, at Clifford Performing Arts Center, at Mount View Complex, 577 Thorndike Road, Thorndike, with Pastor Jennifer Reed and Elizabeth Sullivan officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to McElroy Scholarship Fund, care of Mount View High School, 577 Thorndike Road, Thorndike, ME 04986 or any educational endeavor. Bowers Funeral Home, Island Falls.
“We lived, We loved, We laughed, It was a good life.”
Rodney Wayne McElroy
