OWLS HEAD — Walter Earl "Shorty" Guptill, 92, fell short of his goal to "live forever" and died peacefully May 4, 2016, at home in Owls Head, with his family by his side.

Walter, known to many as Shorty, was born in Owls Head on April 26, 1924, to John Burgess Guptill and Bernice (Williams) Guptill.

Despite his small stature, Walter could be best described as a scrapper, in his younger years, who would never back down from a fight. Forever fearless, his attitude was, "the bigger they are the harder they fall!" His brave and indomitable spirit would serve him well, throughout his life, as he overcame one obstacle after another.

Forever a lover of animals, one of Walter's favorite places to be as a young kid on Ingraham Hill was at Don Wiley's Farm, mucking out stalls, working with animals and caring for cows that dwarfed him; all for 15 cents a week. Walter attended the one-room school house, "on the top of the hill", rising early to start the fire, and then Rockland District High School.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army on Feb. 4, 1943, during World War II. After basic training, he was sent to Hawaii, where he would serve briefly with his older brother, John, before being shipped to New Guinea and the Philippine areas of combat as a field lineman with the 152nd Infantry Regiment. His responsibilities there included laying lines between battalion command posts and line of fire, installing switchboards in headquarter areas and supervising the duty and administration of seven assistant lineman, who together were responsible for the complete maintenance and operation of all line and switchboards under combat conditions. On Jan. 29, 1945, he took part in the combat landing against the Japanese-held Southern Zambales Province on the island of Luzon. Afterward, his division took part in the operations to clear Zig Zag Pass, the Bataan peninsula, and to secure Corregidor and Manila Bay. In recognition of their contributions in clearing the Philippines, the 152d Infantry, as part of the 38th Infantry Division, received the nickname "The Avengers of Bataan."

For his service Walter received a Battle Commendation Letter, Bronze Star Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star and Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, of which he was very proud.

Walter loved to dance, and it was at a dance hall in Spruce Head that he would first catch the eye of Barbara Morris. Barbara caught his eye too and she commented, "He's a good dancer, but he knows it!" None the less, more dances would follow and on June 28, 1946, Walter and Barbara would marry in Tenants Harbor and celebrate what would have been 70 years of marriage in June.

During his working years Walter would take jobs as a welder, lobsterman and shipyard worker at Snow's Shipyard, among other things. Eventually he would work at the Dragon Cement Plant in Thomaston when it was part of Martin Marietta Corporation. He would work for Dragon for more than 30 years, retiring as assistant foreman of the pack house. Walter was a founding member of the Owls Head Fire Department, rising to the rank of lieutenant and was also the assistant scoutmaster of the Boy Scout troop in Owls Head.

In February of 1992, Walter suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that would leave him paralyzed on his left side. After several weeks of intensive therapy at New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland, he returned home to Owls Head. Therapy continued and it wasn't long before his fighting spirit emerged as he fought to overcome the limitations of his stroke. And overcome he did, as he learned to do almost everything he once did, only now with just one good side. He continued to garden and work about his home and in his shop. He could often be seen riding to Rockland on his scooter, making many trips to Spear's Hardware and patrolling the neighborhood, visiting neighbors. As recently as last November, he traveled to South Florida to spend time with family there.

But more than anything Walter was a family man. Nothing made him happier than to be surrounded by family and friends, and nothing made them happier than to be around him. He was always a ray of sunshine with a positive and upbeat attitude that could not be defeated. Whenever asked, "How are you today?" no matter what the situation, his stock reply was, "Wonderful!" He will be forever missed and so fondly remembered and loved by all who knew him.

In addition to his parents; Walter was predeceased by a daughter, Patricia Guptill; his brothers, John and Robert Guptill; and his sister-in-law, Doris Guptill.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara Morris Guptill; his sister, Cora Bergren and her husband, Donald, of Owls Head; his children, Judy Royce and her husband, Bob, of Hope, Marcia Guptill of Owls Head, Walter Guptill and his wife, Lisa Siegel, of Parkland, Fla., and Jane Vester and her husband, David, of Cocoa Beach, Fla.; his grandchildren, Lisa Pendleton and her husband, Donnie, of Hope, Marcia Kenney of Rockland, Robert Royce and his wife, Stacy, of Toca, La., John Guptill and his wife, Charlotte, of Portland, Amy Krawic and her husband, Adam, of Newcastle, Stacey Simpson and her husband, Omar, of Damariscotta, Casey Vester of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Samantha and Derek Siegel of Parkland, Fla.; his nephews, John Bergren and his wife, Karen, of Brunswick and Donald (Tink) Bergren of Owls Head; his niece, Dianne Linscott and her husband, Ronnie, of Thomaston; his great-grandchildren, Kayla Pendleton, Jannika (Pendleton) Bragg and Jacob Pendleton, Joseph, Mya and Percy Krawic, Omayne Simpson, Keely Held, and Kesley, Kane and Robert Royce; his great great-grandchildren, Isabella and Layla Held, Brinley Pendleton, and Liam and Landrie Bragg; and several other beloved friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside committal service will be announced and held at the convenience of the family for family and friends sometime in July.

Memorial donations in memory of Walter may be made to Owls Head Fire Department, 335 North Shore Drive, Owls Head, ME 04854 or in honor of Walter's constant companion and grand-puppy, Windsor, to Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.