Lewis W. Flagg Jr.

BRENTWOOD - Lewis W. Flagg Jr., 94, of Brentwood, N.H., went to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday, December 2, 2018. He was born one of three children to Lewis Sr. and Charlotte Smalley Flagg in Portland, Maine, January 22, 1924.

He graduated from Calais (Maine) Academy in 1941 and became a physical therapist and registered x-ray technician in 1951. He practiced in Calais, Houlton, Sanford and York (Maine) before joining the medical staff at Phillips-Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H.

In 1955 he interrupted his x-ray career to return to his home town of Calais, Maine, to become the hospital administrator as Calais Hospital was relocated from its old Victorian building to a modern facility. He then returned to the practice of x-ray and held several key offices in state and national professional associations.

Lew was smart and a natural leader. He founded the Maine Society of X-Ray Technicians and held every office in that, the NH Society and the New England Society. In 1955 he was elected president of the American Society, although because of his professional side trip to Calais, he did not serve in that office.

In the early 50's he had taken up photography as a hobby, and that became a side business as Flagg Photo. Because he could both shoot and write, he became a correspondent for the Portland Press Herald, Downeast Magazine and The Maine Coast Fisherman, as well as for WBZ Radio in Boston.

Lew worked sometimes two or three jobs to provide for his family. While he never had a formal four-year college degree (going instead to night schools), he was a huge proponent of education for his wife and his four children, working tirelessly to make sure they had the best educations that he never had. Three of his children have advanced degrees and the fourth owns a business he founded.

During his time at PEA, he was appointed to the NH Parole Board and during the 70's served as Chief Deputy of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol.

Lew had been licensed to preach in Houlton in 1949, but in 1969 he became ordained by the American Baptist Churches as a bi-vocational pastor, eventually becoming a full-time pastor, joined in that with his wife, the late Rev. Phyllis Flagg. Together they served Baptist churches in Brentwood, Deerfield and Berlin, N.H., and then in Rome, Maine. Upon retirement and wintering in Florida, Lewis became the chaplain of the Blue Parrot RV Park in Lady Lake.

His passion for providing a camp, horses, travel, faith and education for his family was boundless. Lew was a guy who enjoyed a cheap cigar, awful wine, fishing at any time except Sunday morning, making a fish chowder, and most of all, a good hardy laugh. He had a joke for virtually any occasion and he could pull off a variety of impressive pranks. His children owe him a great debt of gratitude.

He is survived by his brother, Calvin, of Wolfeboro, N.H.; three sons and their wives, Lewis III and Susan of Harpswell, Maine, David and Debra of Brentwood, and Jonathan and Polly of Greenland; and a daughter and her husband, Rev. Dr. Katherine and Bruce McWhorter of Hull, Mass. He was also proud of his 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ernest Barka Assisted Living and Rockingham County Nursing Home in Brentwood for their love and care of Dad during these last few years. Also, many thanks to the nurses and staff of Compassionate Care Hospice for his care and kindness during his last days.

Most especially the family thanks his daughter-in-law, Debra Flagg, RN, for her direct personal care of Dad in his later years. She carefully and knowledgeably oversaw his care and kept the rest of the family well informed as to his condition.

SERVICES: In keeping with his wishes, a Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., January 6, 2019 at the First Baptist Church of Brentwood, where he had pastored in the late 60's and 70's. Rev James Barnes will officiate. A time of food and fellowship will follow in the church vestry.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the First Baptist Church of Brentwood, NH, 201 North Road, Brentwood, NH 03833.

Brewitt Funeral Home in Epping is in charge of arrangements. Go to www.brewittfuneralhome.com to sign the on line guest book.