Eugene C. Smith

READFIELD -- Eugene C. Smith, 80, passed away on Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Bangor on July 2, 1925, the son of the late Hugh C. and Gertrude A. (McCarron) Smith.

He graduated from John Bapst High School in the class of 1943.

Eugene entered the Army in September 1943. He served in the 786th Ordinance Company, which was part of the 86th Infantry Division. During World War II, he served in both the European and Pacific theaters, and was honorably discharged in April 1946.

In 1947, Eugene enrolled in the combustion engine course at the Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute at Augusta. He was a member of the first graduating class in 1949. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1947 and served until his retirement as a chief warrant officer in 1985. During his years in the National Guard, Eugene "Smitty" was a supply sergeant, armament warrant officer, mechanical maintenance officer, and the state food- service officer. He also served in the USP&FO in logistics as stock control supervisor and Army/Air examiner.

He met Eva V. Boynton, his loving wife of 55 years, in 1948. They married in 1950, and together raised seven children.

Eugene was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He thoroughly enjoyed his long retirement, spending his time gardening, tending his chickens, driving his John Deere, fishing (especially for mackerel), vacations on Flying Pond, trips to the coast, and attending various events for his children and grandchildren as well as playing cribbage and dominoes with them.

He was a self-taught man in many ways. He built two camps and his home in Readfield. Both family and friends came to rely on him as a source of knowledge and assistance as an electrician, carpenter, gardener, mechanic, and for plain old common sense. He was community minded, serving on the Readfield Town Beach Board, Readfield Board of Appeals, and volunteered at the town library.

His survivors include his wife, Eva; his brother, Carroll Smith and wife Rachael; his sister-in-law, Mary Smith; his sons, Stephen Smith and wife Barbara, Stanley Smith and wife Debbie, Matthew Smith and wife Tamara, Andrew Smith and wife Dr. Carol Mansfield and Kenneth Smith and wife Judy; his daughters, Sandy Longfellow and husband Scott and Shirley Humphrey and husband Scott; and daughter-in-law Jeanne Chase and husband Tim. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Sarah, Darcie, Kristin, Will, Jeffrey, Evan, Jake, Casey, Kate, Isabel, Toby, Ellie, Alex, Ryan, Matt, and Ben, who affectionately referred to him as "Punky" (as did almost everyone else!); his many nieces and nephews, and cousins Robert MacDonald of Bangor, Pearl Vennard of New Hampshire, and William and Hazel McCarron of Newberg, New Brunswick. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Hugh C. Smith Jr.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Monday, March 13, at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. A committal service with military honors will occur later in the spring at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eugene's name to MaineGeneral Medical Center, Oncology Department, 6 East Chestnut St., Augusta, ME 04330 or HealthReach Hospice Comfort Care Fund, P.O. Box 829, Waterville, ME 04903-0829.