HOPE – Donald E. Holbrook, Sr., 79, died Monday, October 22, 2018, with his family at his side at Maine Medical Center in Portland. 

Born in Camden, February 7, 1939, he was the son of Clarence H. and Marguerite M. Wing Holbrook.  He attended Camden schools.

Always a hard worker, throughout most of his life Donald usually held at least two jobs.  His first employment was at the Elmhurst Dairy.  He later worked at Chadah’s Greenhouse and drilling wells with Walter Drinkwater.  For more than eight years he was employed at Knox Woolen Mill in Camden.  The next eight years Donald worked with Marriner’s Paving in Rockport, beginning as a truck driver and, for most of that time, as a Paver Operator.  For more than 23 years, he worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator with the Town of Camden, retiring in 2001.

Between and after retiring Donald worked at many odd jobs, including plowing snow and driving taxi.

For the past two years, he drove truck for Ludwig Construction.

While it might appear that all Donald ever did was work, moreover and most importantly, he was the Rock of his family.  From the time of his marriage to Patricia Dugan, on June 22, 1957, Donald was committed to his wife as together they raised their family of three sons and a daughter.

His children said that their father was always the go to person for advice and that he could fix or build anything they asked.  He was self-taught, displayed immense common sense and was a gentle giant who never got upset.

He enjoyed camping, snowmobiling, four-wheeling and hunting, which often took place at, as he would say, “Upta Camp”, the family’s Haynesville Woods camp.

Other than his parents, Donald was pre-deceased by one brother, Howard Holbrook in 2009.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Patricia ‘Patsy’ M. Holbrook of Hope; four children, Scott W. Holbrook and his wife Patricia of Warren, Joan H. Tripp and her husband Wayne, John D. Holbrook all of Hope, Donald E. Holbrook, Jr. and his wife Susan of Union; 14 grandchildren, Jason, Matthew, Eric, Travis, Nicole ‘Colie’, Adam ‘Addy’, Chad, Ryan, Donny the III, Austin, Nicholas, Chelsea, Georgianna, Andrew; one great-grandson Marcus; two brothers, Stanley Holbrook and his wife Linda, Fred Holbrook and his wife Dorothy all of Hope; two sisters, Patricia Holbrook of Camden and Evelyn Carleton of Rockport, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Wednesday, October 24, 2018, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.  A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, October 25, 2018, at Hope Grove Extension Cemetery, Rt. 235, Hatchet Mountain Road in Hope.  In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  To share a memory or story with Donald’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.