John R. Dostie

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. – John R. Dostie, 91, passed away Thursday, February 4, 2016, in Englewood, Fla. He was born August 29, 1924, in Portland, Maine, to Edward and Mary (Martin) Dostie. At age 14 his family moved to Newmarket, N.H.

In 1941 John enlisted in the Navy. After the war, he worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he was eventually promoted to superintendent of the Rigger Shop where he retired in 1980 with a total of 37 years of government service.

John married Dolly Tapley in 1949. She died in 1980. They had three children, John E. Dostie of Tamworth, N.H., Jody Arsenault of Englewood, Tenn., and Scott Dostie of Bristol, N.H. When young they traveled the far west through Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Colorado and Idaho. In the 60's they bought isolated land in the White Mountains of N.H., on the edge of a brook. They enjoyed clearing the lot and building a cabin.

In 1981, John married Muriel Bentley who has two daughters, Linda Hopey of Newmarket, N.H., and Donna LaBranche of Reston, Va. In the next 19 years they rebuilt the camp and spent their summers there enjoying wild life, especially the hundreds of humming birds that came to their many feeders and the bears that tore them down. They spent the last 17 years at their winter home in Englewood, Fla.

John is survived by his devoted wife, and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, also his brother, Edward Dostie, and sister, Pauline Morin of Englewood, Fla., and Sister Mary Ellen Robinson of Rochester, N.H. He was predeceased by brothers Oliver in 1951, Raymond and Joseph in 2010, and Francis in 2013. He was also predeceased by his sister Alma Artz in 2011.

John was a member of NRA, VFW, American Legion, and active member for many years in the Edgewater Club in Englewood, Fla.

SERVICES: At his request there will be no Funeral Services. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.