ROCKLAND — It is with profound sadness that the family of Floyd A. Montgomery Jr., affectionately known as "Bud," shares the news of his passing on July 29, 2025. He was our beloved husband, father, and grandfather.

Born on October 29, 1943, at home on Ingraham's Hill in Owl's Head, Bud was the third son and youngest child of Floyd Sr. and Frances Knowlton Montgomery. He attended elementary school in Owl's Head and went on to Rockland High School.

In high school, he was a first baseman on the varsity baseball team and excelled in varsity basketball, where he was known for his defensive prowess. He also proudly served as president of the Key Club.

After graduating from Rockland High School in 1961, Bud continued his education at the University of Maine at Orono. There, he was an active member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and graduated in 1965 with a BA in History and English. He later earned his Master’s degree in Education, also from the University of Maine at Orono.

Just weeks after his graduation in June 1965, Bud married his Rockland High School classmate, Sheila Vinal, a graduate of Farmington State Teachers College. That fall, they settled in Rockland and began their teaching careers there.

Bud spent 39 years at the high school, many of those as chair of the English department. He also served as yearbook advisor, coached freshman basketball, and was an assistant baseball coach under Bob Morrill. By the age of 30, Bud was the proud and loving dad to three children: Beth, and twins Jim and Mike.

Beyond his devotion to his family and career, Bud was an active member of his community. He was a dedicated member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for over 50 years. He was elected a three-time Master at Rockland Aurora Lodge #50 and held the position of Secretary for 23 years. His commitment extended to the Grand Lodge of Maine as a former Assistant Grand Lecturer and Grand Steward. He was honored to receive the Scottish Rite's 33rd degree in 2003. 

Bud was also a member of the Jaycees, and he found joy in coaching PeeWee basketball, Little League baseball, and girls' softball. During summers, he worked at the Reading Corner bookstore on Main Street, and many evenings at the WRKD radio station. For many years, he was also the familiar voice broadcasting Rockland basketball games for WRKD, providing the play-by-play.

Bud was a voracious reader and delighted in wordplay. He loved teaching it and using it, always with a deft turn of phrase, especially when it came to puns. He was perfecting 'dad jokes' long before ‘dad jokes’ even had a name, and lost no opportunity to practice this ‘craft’ amongst witting and unwitting audiences.

Floyd is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Sheila; children and spouses: Beth Rhinelander (Philip), Jim Montgomery (Caren) and Mike Montgomery (Amelia); grandchildren Andrew Montgomery and Josephine Montgomery; sister-in-law Barbara Reilly; nieces and nephews: Richard Thurlow (Maria), Deborah Thurlow (William Kelley), Melissa Templeton (David), Kathy Estabrook, Diane Bouchard, Barbara Parker, Cindy Wandell, Thomas Ingerson, and Wendy Wagenknecht.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers William and Robert; sister Ramona Ingerson; sister-in-law Katharine Montgomery; brother-in-law Donald Reilly; nieces and nephews Robert Montgomery, John Estabrook, Yvonne Davis and Lori Bigelow.

Visiting hours will be Thursday, Aug. 21, from 6:30 - 8 p.m., at Burpee Carpenter Hutchins Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 22, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception, at the Rockland Congregational Church.

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

Those wishing to honor Bud's deep love of reading and his commitment to the community are encouraged to make a memorial contribution in his name to the Rockland Public Library, 80 Union Street, Rockland, Maine 04841.