Obituary

Philip Spaulding, obituary

Fri, 12/14/2012 - 10:15am

CUSHING — Philip E. Spaulding, 84, passed away peacefully Dec. 13, 2012, at Windward Gardens in Camden, following an extended illness.

Born in Thomaston Feb. 7, 1928, he was the son of Robert G. and Arlene Smith Spaulding. At age 6 he moved to Stonington, where he attended school until the age of 13. His family moved back to Thomaston, where he graduated from Thomaston High School, class of 1946.

As a child, Phil spent a lot of time at his grandparents, Herbert and Iola Smith's farm in Cushing. He was very close to his cousins, Phyllis and Elaine, and his uncle, Gerald.

He loved playing baseball and played for the Thomaston High School team, and later with the Twilight league. Often he would talk about playing baseball with the prison inmates.

After high school, he went on to technical school in Massachusetts, where he studied radio repair. Returning to Cushing, he lived and worked on his grandparents' farm, until going to work for Harris Bread Company in the 1950s. Soon after, he married and started a family. He worked more than seven years at the Thomaston Cement Plant, while further educating himself in television repair. He then bought Emery's T.V. Repair Service on Main Street in Rockland.

Eventually closing that business, he traveled several years to Boothbay where he worked with another repair business. Later Phil began employment with Sears Roebuck in Rockland, working there16 years until his retirement, when he enjoyed working at the old Strand Theater as a projectionist.

In 1988, Phil was pleased to accompany his son, Gerald, on a trip from Kennebunk to Norfolk, Va., aboard the USS Yorktown. He had yet another cruise aboard the USS Nassau, from Boston to Norfolk with his son, but this time accompanied by his grandson as well. He enjoyed spending time with his daughter and loved going to Red Sox and Patriots games with his sons and son-in-law. He was a true Red Sox and Patriots fan. Phil also loved hunting.

Phil married Cynthia Steele June 4, 2000, at their Cushing home.

Phil was pre-deceased by his father, Robert Spaulding; his mother, Arlene Whitehill and her husband, Harold; and one son Arnold. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Steele-Spaulding, and their cat, Vadell, of Cushing; his children and their spouses, Jennifer and F.J. O'Hara of Owls Head, Gerald and Robin Spaulding of South Thomaston, Jeff and Tracy Spaulding of Bath, Gary and Teresa Spaulding of Rockland, and Glen and Carolyn Spaulding of Albany, Ore.; the mother of his children, Janet Spaulding of Rockland; 10 grandchildren, Christopher, Jamie, Stephen, Nathan, Travis, CaSandra, Jessica, Jason, Shasta and Melanie; six great-grandchildren; four sisters, Charlene Anderson of Thomaston, Carolyn and Owen Ward of Cape Cod, Mass., Anita and Fred Cullen of Rockland, and Jeanene Bartlett of Massachusetts; a step-daughter and her husband, Laurie and Tom Robinson of Cushing; a sister-in-law and her husband, Jessica and George Nye of St. George; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family extends many thanks to the Spring Gardens family at Windward Gardens. It was a great comfort to know that Derek and Tina were with Dad when he passed.

Private services are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kno-Wal-Lin Homecare and Hospice, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04841, or the Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or story with Phil's family, visit his online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.