Walter R. "Skippy" Dunton Sr.

Bar Harbor

Walter "Skippy" R. Dunton, Sr.,91, died March 7, 2026, at the Mt. Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor. He was born May 19, 1934, in Bar Harbor the son of Leslie I. and Dorothy E. (Reed) Dunton.

Skippy career as a lobsterman spanned nearly 70 years. Starting around 1946, his three-digit buoy #706 would be a household number to all and a front door memento to the Lucky. He had a huge garbage pick up route, worked at the family store, and the butcher shop putting together orders for Christmas and Thanksgiving. He also was the Postmaster for Salsbury Cove for at least 34 years. When it was time to hang up the Lobster Pots, one final hobby was left, gardening. He could always be found in the garden weeding, saying I grow vegetables, not weeds.

His most vivid recollections of lobstering were the day he was rowing to the next trap off Star Point near the Bio Lab when a 17-foot Great White cut a 300lb. Harbor Seal in two right next to him. It was confirmed by two doctors on a sailboat at the Bio Lab. Yes, Jaws in upper Frenchman's Bay that was in 1950. He ran one of the First Lobster Pounds in town across from the store. That building is still used today as his son's clam shop on Route 3. He made many lifelong friendships with doctors at the MDI Bio Lab that spanned generations of kids who remember the penny candy counter at the store. But the first smell that got you was the big wheel of Rat cheese just through the door, that would clear your sinuses for the day! An avid fisherman who enjoyed going to the Narraguagus River in Cherryfield, fly fishing for Atlantic Salmon as much as he did ice fishing for anything.

He loved his family. How many lobster dinners did we have and picnics too! Too many for the computer to tabulate. Clams were always on the menu as was venison occasionally. He mentioned how he loved his sister Alberta, who helped bring him up and if anybody messed with her, they would have him to deal with.

His later years were made pleasant by his Lady friends, Judith Gassant, Lucille Albee, Martha Perkins and his special friend Lacey MacQuinn. Time spent with them made life worth living.

He is survived by his sons: Walter Jr., and Life Partner Dawn of Trenton, Michael and David, both of Bar Harbor: grandchildren, Ocean Dunton and wife AnnMarie, Hannah Ela, and Joann Dunton; great grand-children Acadia Dunton, Addison Dunton, Chandler Magee, and Arai Dunbar; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Barbara: two brothers Irving Leslie Dunton, Clifford Dunton and two sisters, Alberta Strout and Claudine Farnsworth.

A memorial service will be held 10am, March 28, 2026, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main Street, Mt. Desert.

Those who desire may make contributions in Skippy's memory to Mt. Desert Island Hospital, 10 Wyman Lane, Bar Harbor, 04609 or the Maine Lobstermen's Association, 2 Storer Street, Suite 203, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com