Hayden WILBUR

WILBUR, Hayden

Hayden Wilbur passed away early on the morning of Sunday, December 2nd, 2012 at the age of 74 years old. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty (Mecham) Wilbur, his sons, Derek of Meriden, CT and Preston of Winter Haven, FL, his brother, Haldon of Readfield, ME, his granddaughters, Stacey and Laurie, and his great-grandson, Jayden. He also deeply loved our family dog, Brandy, and doted on her as he would a small child. Hayden was born on January 29th, 1938 in Farmington, ME to his parents Harlon and Idella (Locklin) Wilbur, who are now deceased. He grew up in Maine and graduated from Phillips High School in 1957 with his future wife Betty. Hayden was known as a "hot rod" growing up in that small town in Maine and loved driving his car around town. After graduating, he completed 6 months training in the Active Army Reserve stationed in Fort Dix, NJ and married Betty in 1958, celebrating 54 years of marriage this past September 6th. After their marriage in 1958, he and his wife worked at Foster Manufacturing in Strong, ME until 1963 when they moved to Connecticut with first son, Derek. In 1963, Hayden started working as a mechanic and then later a foreman. In 1968, he became an operator for equipment pertaining to water treatment, working for different employers through 1975 when he was hired as Chief Operator at the Mattabassett Water Treatment facility in Cromwell, CT. In 1987, he was hired by the Town of East Hampton, CT as the Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent and spent 16 years working their until his retirement in 2003. He also received Outstanding Service and Citizen Awards from the town of Middlefield, CT as Chairman of the town's Water Pollution Control Authority from 1996 through 2001. Over the years, Hayden frequently showed his devotion to his family and close friends in Maine, Connecticut and Florida with his helpful hands, laughter and love. Many of his friends will remember his love of country music and the recording of Hayden singing the old country song, "Good Ol' Mountain Dew". He took incredible joy in attending parties with his friends, watching UCONN basketball and NASCAR, and travelling to places such as Branson, MO, Bermuda, Hawaii, Mexico and the Bahamas. Hayden lived with his wife Betty in Middlefield, CT for most of his life, until 2003, when they retired to their home in Davenport, FL.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 6th at 11 a.m. at Middlefield Federated Church with Rev. Dr. Dale H. Azevedo officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Maine. Friends may call on Thursday morning from 9:30-11 a.m. at the church and in lieu of flowers may make donations in Hayden's memory to the American Diabetes Association, 2080 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or the Book of Remembrance at Middlefield Federated Church, 420 Main Street, Middlefield, CT 06455. Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown is handling the arrangements.