THORNDIKE- Roland G. Reid Sr., 90, died peacefully Sept. 14, 2015, at Augusta Center for Health & Rehabilitation after a long period of failing health. His Grandson, Roland 3rd, was at his side.

Roland was born Aug. 4, 1925, the first son of Roland Reid and Marion (Sheerin) Reid. As a young man, he was an avid sportsman who loved canoe racing, hunting and fishing. He graduated from high school in West Roxbury, Mass., and served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II.

He married Ruth Humsey, and when the war ended, his love of hunting and fishing brought them to Maine. They purchased a farm in Thorndike and spent the next 20 years farming and raising a family. While still farming, Roland took flying lessons and earned a commercial pilot license. When the children were grown, he sold the dairy cattle and headed north, where he converted his interests into a new career. With his love of flying and the outdoors, it was a natural for him to become a bush pilot. He purchased a float plane and built several sporting camps in Newfoundland and Labrador and began a business catering to sportsmen. For the next 30 years, he lived the life of his dreams, and he took great pleasure in sharing that with his family. He worked in Canada through the summer and fall and then headed back to Maine in the winter. Excitement was in the air when the season ended and he brought the plane home, making a fly-by over the farm and tilting his wings signaling that he was back and needed someone to go to the lake and bring him home.

After retiring, he enjoyed his daily swim, his beloved dog, Rocky, and the continuous chaos and commotion created by living with five generations of family members and their events.

Roland is survived by four sons, Roland "Greg" Jr. and his wife, Pat, of Thorndike, Michael and his wife, Nancy, of Vail, Colo., and Bruce Reid and Raymond Reid, both of Thorndike; and a daughter, Susan and Forest Hart of Monroe. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Roland Reid 3rd of Thorndike, Crystal Reid and Bill Albertson of Canaan, Scott and Amanda Reid of Alton, Jennifer and Levi Thorne of Jackson, Wyo., Steven Reid of Vail, Colo., Kathy and Mark Power of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Brett Reid of Machias and Allex Kirkland of Thorndale, Pa. He also leaves 13 great-grandchildren, Heather and Joanna Reid of Thorndike, Alex, Andrew and Shawn Bristol of Brattleboro, Vt., Billy Albertson of Canaan, Hanna and Natalie Storman, and Ian and Ainsley Reid, all of Alton, Ethan and Eva Thorne of Jackson, Wyo., and Taylor Reid of Machias. For the past nine years he has shared a special bond with his great great-granddaughter, Isabela Serrano of Thorndike.

He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth; his grandson, Jesse Reid; his parents; four brothers; and one sister.

At Roland's request, there will be no services. The family invites friends and neighbors to join them at any of their respective homes on Reid Road in Thorndike on Sunday, Oct. 4 to share memories and a time of remembrance .

Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home.