WARREN — Howard Lindley Wiley, 79, went to be with his Lord and Savior, October 30, 2021 after a short fight with cancer.

Howard was born in Rockland, May 4,1942 to Lindley G. and Leola M. (Parlin) Wiley. He grew up on the Warren dairy farm that had been in the family since the early 1700s. He was the sixth generation to own this land, and often told of his love for the farm and his childhood roaming the fields and woods.

Howard felt it was a privilege to have spent his beginning education in not just one, but two one-room schoolhouses. His lifelong love of reading was honed during these years. He was a constant reader, usually of non-fiction, but he also enjoyed a good mystery or adventure. Howard and his wife built a personal research library in their home, years before the internet was even dreamed of. He also had a great love of music.

He joined the Boy Scouts and hard work over many years resulted in his becoming an Eagle Scout. As an adult, he helped other boys in their quest of becoming an Eagle Scout. He always thought that he helped the young men as others had helped him.

Academics always interested Howard. Although his favorite subject was history, the sciences and math filled many hours study. If you ever gave him an opportunity, you would be hearing an interesting historical story.

Howard played a different sport in each season of the school year and participated in public speaking contests, school plays, Medomak Valley League plays, and glee club. He then chose the University of Maine at Orono, majoring in history. He also joined the Army’s Reserve Officer’s Training Corp. He received his Bachelor’s Degree and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and an ROTC Honor Graduate in 1964. Because of this honor, he had his active-duty status deferred while he received his Master at Teaching Degree.

His first duty station at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, was with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Here he helped train soldiers to serve in Vietnam, where he also spent two one-year tours. While there, he acted as a liaison between the army and the Vietnamese people. He received a battlefield promotion to Captain. Upon returning, Howard resigned his commission in 1970 and was granted an Honorable Discharge.

Howard and his family returned to Warren to build a house. All lumber for the house was cut on the farm, seasoned, and used in the construction. Sitting on a corner of a field, the house overlooks woods and fields rolling down to a pond. By doing this, he and his wife raised their children the way he had been raised.

Howard became a postal employee and soon became postmaster of the Warren Post Office where he served for 20 years. During this time, he became active in many town organizations. He was a member of the SAD 40 school board, served as a town selectman, and was one of the first presidents of Warren Historical Society. At the time of his death, he was vice president of the society.

During the Bicentennial of our country, Warren celebrated 200 years as a town. He was appointed to the Warren Bicentennial Committee and helped plan and execute so many of the festivities. On July 4th of that year, the two churches rang their bells in unison. He waited at the bell pull in Warren Baptist Church, and soon the two bells announced the important moment.

Education being very important, he served many years on the school board of South Hope Christian School where he also taught. He served 25 years as the secretary/treasurer of the Trustees of Warren Academy, an organization giving scholarships to Warren students. He also was vice president of Warren High School Alumni Association.

Howard retired a number of times and then would work again. The Army, teaching, postmaster, Lie Nielson Toolworks, Autozone, and O’Reilly’s Auto parts. He enjoyed people. Recently Howard received the privilege of being included in a Veteran’s Honor Flight. They toured the monuments in the Washington area. But most importantly he met many veterans from World War II, Korea, and also those from the Vietnam Conflict. This experience and honor provided so many rich memories for him.

After Howard’s faith, if you were to ask him what was the most important part of his life, he would instantly say “family.” He was a father of four, a grandfather of seven, and had many assorted cousins, aunts, and uncles - he was a rich man. It didn’t take much of a reason for the immediate family to gather. Each member of the group could and did tell stories. One story led to another, and then another, and then another. “Do you remember when?” Everyone knew the stories but we loved to tell them again and again. And the laughter followed each story!

From a small boy, he attended church with his parents. He grew in the faith and shared it with so many others. He served in church in various positions: choir member, deacon, lay preacher, Sunday School teacher, usher, janitor, and treasurer. He belonged to Warren Baptist Church for many years and South Hope Community Church for almost forty years. At the end of his life, when he could hardly speak, he kept sharing his faith.

From a little boy on a Maine farm to a man who travelled on four continents, Howard watched for opportunities to make his life meaningful. We, his family, are grateful that we have such rich memories of him.

Surviving Howard are his wife of 57 years, Carolyn; his daughters Carolyn Anne Reed and her husband Jeffrey of Warren, and Katherine Wiley Howell and her husband Lyndon of Searsport; his sons James Anderson Wiley and his wife Karen of Warren, and David A. Wiley and his wife Hannah of Warren; and his seven grandchildren: Rachel, Isabelle, Anderson, Ethan, Samantha, Jason, and Emily, all of Warren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missions program of South Hope Community Church, 142 Main Street, Hope, Maine 04847; or Trustees of Warren Academy Scholarship Fund, C/O Travis Anderson, 75 Old Settlers Road, Warren, Maine 04864.

Visiting hours and a reception will be November 12, 2021, from 6 to 8 p.m., at South Hope Community Church on Route 17.

The Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 13, at 11 a.m., at the church.

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

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