Winston G. Edwards

Winston Gerard Edwards, 101, of Farmington and Winthrop, died Jan. 18, 2010, at the Heritage Rehabilitation and Living Center in Winthrop.

He was born Nov. 2, 1908, in Madison, the son of Albion K. P. Edwards and Sadie (Smith) Edwards.

Winston grew up on his parents' farm on New Portland Hill, East New Portland. He attended a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Central High School in North New Portland at the age of 16.

While Winston was still working for his father on the farm, he and his brother, Marshall, suffered from polio, and their devoted mother nursed them back to health.

Winston taught himself to trap. Money from his furs was a big help with farm expenses, and he bought a good rifle and the first automobile in the family, both of which were assets on the farm.

During the Great Depression, he worked at numerous jobs including lumbering, working on a river drive, peeling cedar posts and dredging sand for a gravel company. He also worked at Small's Store in Farmington where, among other duties, he loaded narrow-gauge railroad cars headed for Strong and beyond.

One winter, he drove the beloved country doctor, Eugene Hutchins, to and from his house calls during the day or night in all kinds of weather. On Aug. 6, 1932, he married the doctor's niece, Theona Emily Hutchins. Not long after they moved to Farmington, Winston went to work at Maine Dowel Co. The owners soon realized he was a man of true Yankee ingenuity, good at working with both machines and people and an honest, hard worker. He retired after 40 years of invaluable service as foreman of the mill crew and the machine shop.

Winston and Theona bought 135 acres of land in Vienna and cleared the land to raise wild blueberries, providing extra income for many in the area. They were also very successful gardeners, a practice Winston continued into his late 90s. During the war, they tended a large victory garden, always preserving and sharing the bounty of their harvest.

Winston was a devoted family man, a good neighbor and friend ... a "gentleman's gentleman." He was an active life member of the Maine Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M., of Farmington, was an avid reader, enjoyed playing bridge, tying flies and skiing.

After they began to ski, Winston and Theona enjoyed volunteering at Titcomb ski slope. He became one of the directors and many a bitter cold night he could be found with freezing hands splicing the broken rope of the rope tow. He didn't wait for daylight. Folks would need the tow in the morning.

Winston was a true Maine outdoors man, never happier than when he was tramping the woods following a deer track or riding the back roads hunting partridge. In fishing season, he never tired of casting a dry fly he tied to entice the evasive trout. He loved dogs, especially Weimaraners; they were treated as family. A favorite pastime was going for rides on familiar back roads, often taking friends who could no longer drive.

Winston was a wonderful grandfather. "Gramp" taught his grandchildren by example, the value of hard work at an early age and always doing your best. For great-grandchildren, he was a treasured window into the history of the past 100 years in rural Maine.

Winston and Theona were blessed to have had 70 years together before she passed away on Dec. 1, 2002. Their marriage set a fine example for all. Winston will be greatly missed by his family and others who knew and loved him.

He was predeceased by his loving wife, Theona (Hutchins) Edwards; brothers Marshall and Merton Edwards; sisters Mildred Davis and Alma Churchill; sisters-in-law Evelyn Edwards and Ida Edwards; brothers-in-law Archie Davis and Robert McLeery; and brothers-in-law Merton and Leslie Hutchins and their wives, Mildred and Mable; and a stepsister, Nathalie Wilber Heath.

He is survived by his loving daughter, Priscilla E. Small and her husband, Alden G. Small, of Winthrop; three grandchildren, Galen Gene Small and Christy Joanne Foster, of North Monmouth, Scott Alden Small and his wife, Jenny (Misner) Small, of Augusta, and Heidi (Small) McNinch and her husband, Robert, of Old Orchard Beach; six great-grandchildren, Laura Lynn Small, of Baldwinsville, N.Y., Mark Alden Small, of Washington, D.C., Steven Edward Small, of Hamden, Conn., Cassidy Rose Small and Thomas Winston Small, of North Monmouth, and Anthony Mark Crossman, of Old Orchard Beach. He is also survived by his sister, Edith (Edwards) McLeery, of Farmington; stepbrother-in-law Carryl Heath, of Jacksonville, Fla.; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family of Winston Edwards would like to thank all of the staff at the Heritage Rehabilitation and Living Center in Winthrop for their loving and quality care.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, U.S. Route 2 and Route 27, Farmington, on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21, from 1 p.m. until the time of the services at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. C. Scott Planting of Fairbanks Union Church will be the celebrant. The Maine Masonic Lodge AF & AM of Farmington will hold a public memorial Masonic service following the benediction. Following services, a family reception will be held at the Remembrance Center. All are welcome.

Those who wish to remember Winston in a special way may consider giving memorial remembrances to the charity of one's choice, to the Care and Share Food Closet, c/o Mary O'Donal 201 Barlen St., Farmington, ME 04938; or to Health Reach Hospice and Volunteers, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04908-0828. Winter entombment at the funeral home. Spring committal services at the East New Portland Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to his family via e-mail to info@wilesrc.com.