WILLIAM L. FINDLEN

Fort Fairfield – William L. Findlen, 89, passed away on the morning of January 8, 2019 at his home in Fort Fairfield. The youngest of the ten children of George P. and Helena (Cassidy) Findlen, he was born in Fort Fairfield on June 30, 1929 where he received his early years of education, graduating from Fort Fairfield High School in 1946. He later went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine at Orono and a master’s degree from the University of Southern Maine. At the age of eight, William “Bill” was chosen by a New York advertising firm to be the Maine Potato Boy. Life size displays of his image were used throughout the markets of the Northeast for the purpose of advertising Maine potatoes. Later, his first paid job was with this same firm. After being honorably discharged from the Air National Guard in April of 1953, Bill returned to Fort Fairfield where he farmed for the next fifteen years. In the late 1960’s he began a career in education as an Industrial Arts teacher at Fort Fairfield High School. In 1970 he accepted a similar position at Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

Returning to “The County” in 1974, he taught diesel/hydraulics at Northern Maine Community College until his retirement in the early 1990’s. One who loved music, Bill sang with the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church choir for several years and continued to sing as a member of the congregation for as long as he was capable of attending church. In addition to family activities, another major interest was local history and the preservation of such for future generations. He was a longtime, active member of the Frontier Heritage Society. He was predeceased by his parents, George P. and Helena Findlen; by brothers, Paul, Thomas, Joseph, Herbert, George Jr., and John Findlen; his sisters, Marion Duesing, Louise Gizzi, and Margaret Amsden; one son, David M. Findlen. He is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Dawn Hodgkins Findlen; three sons, Dan Findlen of Fort Fairfield, Jeffrey Findlen and his wife Trudy of Mapleton, Scott Findlen and his wife Joyce of New Sweden; four grandchildren, Matthew Findlen and his companion Angie of Miami, FL, Paige Briggs and her husband Wilson of Freeport, Caleb Findlen of New Sweden, Austin Findlen of New Sweden; one great grandson, Wilson Briggs of Freeport; numerous nieces and nephews. Friends called Saturday January 12, 2019 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 170 Main Street, Fort Fairfield where a memorial service was conducted at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Kevin Kinsey officiating. Interment will take place at a later date. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments was held after the service in the church reception area. Donations in William’s memory may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, c/o Gloria Towle, 645 Houlton Road, Easton, Maine 04740 or the Frontier Heritage Society, 18 Community Center Drive, Fort Fairfield, Maine 04742. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. Online condolences may be expressed at www.gibersondorseyfuneralhome.com