A graveside committal service with military honors for Donald E. Simonton, 77, who died April 21, 2020, will be held Friday, August 28, at 2 p.m., at West Rockport Cemetery, Park Street, West Rockport. The Reverend Wayne Sawyer will officiate.

To share a memory or condolence with the Simonton family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

ROCKPORT — On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, Donald E. Simonton, 77, of Rockport, passed away with his wife by his side at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta.

Born December 13, 1942 in Camden; he was the son of Donald L. Simonton and Carolyn (Blackington) Simonton.

Don grew up in Rockport and attended school there until he graduated in 1962. Soon afterwards, in 1963, he enlisted in the United States Army where he spent a year in Alaska before being sent overseas to Vietnam in the First Infantry Division as a Marksman. He spent a year in the jungles outside of Saigon and returned home in 1966, however the experience never really left him; it weighed heavy on his shoulders for a lifetime.

After his service Don returned home to Rockport where he continued his military service as an Army Reservist until 1969. On New Year’s Eve 1971 he married his ‘Beautiful Wife’ Sally and a family was formed. In 1973
he served on the Rockport Police Department for a time until turning to his career as a Pipefitter. He retired from pipefitting in 2004.

Don was a man of few words most of the time, but had many talents. His favorite place to be when home was tinkering in his garage. He kept himself busy with numerous projects including, building his own race car in the
70’s with his best friend David Mahonen, fashioning trailers, constructing his garages, tinkering on his old jeep, and maintaining his yard. He loved to feed the birds, chipmunks, and squirrels and you would often find him sitting and watching them dive in and out of the feeders during his down time.

Don had an incredible strength; though his last five years were full of medical hurdles he met each one head on and beat the odds more than once. He was a man fashioned from miracles and stubbornness, only being taken finally by an unsuspected cancer that weaseled its way into his heart, giving him only days after its discovery.

He will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved him and his absence will forever be felt.

Don was predeceased by his parents, Donald and Carolyn Simonton: his brother, Gary Simonton; sisters-in-law, Barbara Simonton, Jody Simonton; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, David Baughman, Peter Baughman, Rick Sawyer, Laddie Sawyer, Arthur Steeves, Sandra Clynch, Jill Steeves, Minnie Watt; and a special nephew, Shane Steeves.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Simonton of Rockport; a son, Jason Baughman of Nobleboro; a daughter, Angela Simonton of Camden; grandchildren, Cote Baughman and his wife Crystal of Thomaston, Hunter Baughman who is enlisted in the Navy and stationed in Groton CT, Bryce Baughman of Warren, Gabrielle Baughman of Warren, and foster grandchild David Hall of Camden.

He is also survived by his beloved great-grandchildren, Alyvia, Hailey, and Everlee Baughman; his sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Wayne Twitchell of Hope; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tim and Cassie Simonton of VA, Mike Simonton and his partner Judy Lassiter of VA, Scott Simonton of Washington, Janette Small of Warren, Veronica Baughman of MD, brother-in-law Peter Watt of Waldo; best friends David and Lucille Mahonen; and many nieces and nephews.

Those wishing to honor Don’s life may do so with a donation to either, The Fisher House, c/o Togus VA Medical Center, 1 VA Center, Augusta, ME 04330 or the Camden American Legion War Memorial Post, 91 Pearl Street, Camden, ME 04843.

To share a memory or condolence with the Simonton family, visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.