Frederick Robie Jr.

ORONO - Frederick Robie Jr., of Orono, passed away after a brief illness on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. He was born Feb. 22, 1924, in Westbrook, the son of Frederick and Alice Genthner Robie. He married Thelma Crossland Robie on Flag Day, June 14, 1949.

During World War II, at the age of 17, Fred served three years in Battery C 110th Coast Artillery Battalion as an observer of aircraft in the European Theater. He was awarded five battle stars for Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.

After the war, in 1946, Frederick graduated from Gorham High School and went on to graduate from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1951. He then received a bachelor's degree in Forestry from University of Maine in 1953.

Frederick was ordained as a pastor in Madison, in 1953 and served also in Lincoln, 1957-1965 and Sanford, 1965-1989. He was very involved in the Maine Conference of UCC and served on many committees throughout his years in ministry. In 1989, he retired to Orono with his wife, Thelma, returning to her childhood home by the Stillwater River. They joined the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono where they had been married and All Soul's UCC in Bangor. He was Abbott of the Brothers and Sisters of the Way; serving five years as Prior.

After his retirement, Frederick was made Minister Emeritus by the North Parish Congregational Church in Sanford where he had served as minister for 25 years. He also received the Bangor Theological Seminary's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004, which was given to him for Lifetime Achievement in Parish Ministry.

Frederick was predeceased by his wife, Thelma, who died in 2015. He is survived by four sons and their families, Charles Frederick Robie and wife, Catherine Stewart Robie of Freeport and their children, Nicholas Stewart Robie and Becca Crossland Robie, Paul Robie and his partner, Karen Young of Northport, Bruce Robie and wife, Katherine Hanson Robie of Holden and their children, Benjamin Hanson Robie and Grace Aparna Hanson Robie, and Glenn Robie and wife, Beth Simpson-Robie of Kennebunk and their children, Carlton Frederick Robie and Forrest Benjamin Robie.

Frederick will always be remembered for his genuine love for people and the natural world. He had a keen eye for seeing the remarkable in the ordinary, as well as appreciating the beauty of life, trees, and creation. His love of life was as infectious as the animated stories he liked to tell from the pulpit to the dinner table. In his later years, he found joy in hiking the paths of Public Land Trusts and parks all over Maine. Armed with his iPhone camera, he captured beauty in nature and shared his love in daily emails of his adventures. Our thanks to all the individuals in the Maine communities who made his life richer throughout the years. He was loved and will be sorely missed by all.

A celebration service will be held Saturday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m. at the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the

Presumpscot Regional

Land Trust,

P.O. Box 33,

Gorham, Maine 04038.