GLENDON R. WATHEN

Scarborough, Maine – Glendon Richard Wathen, 84, went into the loving arms of his Lord Jesus on June 25, 2017, in Scarborough, Maine after a brief illness. He was born January 4, 1933 in Fort Fairfield, Maine, the son of Stanley A. Wathen and Beatrice (Nightingale) Wathen. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Mona (Wathen) Guiney, and his brother, Wendall Wathen. He graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in the class of 1951 where he was a record-breaking track and field athlete and a member of the State Championship basketball team. Following high school, he entered the Navy ROTC program at Dartmouth College where he was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and earned his MBA from the Tuck School of Business in 1955. He fulfilled his active duty at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. as an intelligence officer. He met the love of his life at Lake Coeur D’Alene, ID. They were married in 1959 in Fairfield, Washington and moved directly to Fort Fairfield, Maine where he began his career as a Potato Farmer, managing his grandfather, Simeon Nightingale’s potato farm which started in 1895 as S. Nightingale & Co. and was later renamed Nightingale Enterprises, Inc. growing seed, processing and tablestock varieties. He distinguished himself as a leader in the potato industry for 35 years farming 1,200+ acres of potatoes and always seeking new and better ways to grow, harvest, store and pack potatoes. He actively participated in and helped to bring new innovations to the potato industry, including the use of windrower and air harvester operations, liquid fertilizer and seed cup planters. He was one of the first potato farmers in Maine to use the pivot irrigation system as well as the climate-controlled storage systems. He was a member of the Agricultural Bargaining Council for 25 years, a Director with Maine Potato Growers for 20 years, and Director of Farm Credit of Aroostook for 18 years.  Glen’s legacy to his family is his faith in Jesus Christ. He had a deep respect for our military and a profound interest in the history of World War II. He valued patriotism and had a deep devotion to our country. He followed his beloved Red Sox and New England Patriots faithfully and rarely missed a game or opportunity to discuss the subject. His passion for fly fishing began as a teenager and he loved to explore wilderness areas where no one else had ventured, including Maine, Idaho, Montana and New Brunswick, Canada.  He is survived by his wife, Lynn (Fulton) Wathen of Scarborough, ME; his three children, Karen L. Wathen of Scarborough, ME, Laurie K. Cothran of Troy, OH, and Gordon R. Wathen of Scarborough, ME; three grandchildren, Sean P. Cothran, Shannon K. Cothran, and Erin E. Cothran of Troy, OH.  A memorial service will be held at Vineyard Church of Greater Portland, Westbrook, Maine, at 5:00 p.m. on July 8, 2017. A visitation will be held at the Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main Street, Fort Fairfield from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, 2017. A graveside service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 10, 2017 at Riverside Cemetery, Fort Fairfield. In lieu of flowers gifts may be made to The Caribou Veterans Home Activities Fund, 163 Van Buren Road, Caribou, Maine 04736. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.gibersondorseyfuneralhome.com