Bruce Wayne Chandler, obituary

Mon, 02/19/2018 - 5:00pm

BELFAST — Bruce Wayne Chandler, 73, of Swanville, died on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Waldo County General Hospital.  Born in Winterport on September 13, 1944, he was the son of Bernard D. and Madeline (Long) Chandler, and was a 1964 graduate of Crosby High School in Belfast.

Bruce was very proud of serving with the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Vietnam Era.  On September 19, 1964, he married Sheila Merriam in Belfast.

His employment included Penobscot Poultry in Belfast where he worked for 17 years and Champion Paper Company in Bucksport, where he worked 29 years, retiring 2006.  Bruce enjoyed driving public transportation vehicles for WCAP for ten years during his retirement.  

A “people person” all of his life, anyone who knew him, knew this, and it seemed everyone knew him... His pride in his three sons was legendary, his tales of their endeavors readily repeated. No matter where in the world he travelled, Bruce always ran into someone that he knew, or made certain he knew someone everywhere he went.  Bruce enjoyed traveling visiting many states and countries, spending the winter months in Lady Lake, FL for the last ten years. He also enjoyed camping with family and friends, hiking, fishing, and having campfires with fireworks and laughs for many years.

The grandchildren were a great source of pride for Bruce.  Spending time with them including lots of teasing, was a high priority.  

Surviving is his wife of 53 years, Sheila Chandler of Swanville; sons, Bruce W. Chandler, II and his wife, Maylynn of Virginia Beach, Virgina; Mark Chandler and his wife, Judith of Salem, New Hampshire; Jason Chandler and his wife, Keri of Mansfield, Connecticut; grandchildren, Miranda Chandler of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Madelyn Chandler and Luke Chandler both of Mansfield, Connecticut; Gavin Chandler of Salem, NH; Kareylane Chandler of the Philippines; great-grandson, Braden Chandler of Colorado Springs, Colorado; siblings, Jerry Hammond and his wife Nancy of Houlton; Judy Chandler of Frankfort; Rosemary Demerchant and her husband, Blake of Windsor, Connecticut; Elizabeth Larrabee of Belfast; Bernard Chandler of Spotsylvania VA.  Bruce was predeceased by his parents, stepfather Carl Hammond; stepmother, Emily (McCusker) Chandler; and stepbrother, Wayne Hammond.  

A memorial service will be announced in the spring.  Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.  Memorial gifts may be made in his memory to Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County, P.O. Box 772, Belfast, ME 04915, or to Pen Bay Waldo Healthcare Foundation, Attn: Waldo Oncology Dept., 4 White Street, Rockland, ME 04941.  Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.