SPRUCE HEAD — Elbert W. Burton Jr., known to many as Burt or Junior, friend to all he met, died unexpectedly, yet peacefully on Jan. 13, 2016,  at the age of 88, following a brief period of declining health at PenBay Medical Center in Rockport.

Born Nov. 23, 1927 in Spruce Head, just a few hundred feet from his lifelong home, Junior was the son of Elbert Sr. and Eunice Wall Burton. He was educated in the South Thomason one-room school.

In 1946 Junior enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a military policeman in Germany at the end of World War II. Returning to the states after his honorable discharge, Junior spent a few years courting Violet Maxwell. While planning to wed, the couple built a home on Spruce Head Road. Junior and Violet were married at his family homestead in Spruce Head on June 6, 1954. After enjoying a honeymoon dinner at Moody's Diner, they returned to their newly completed home, where they have resided ever since. Junior and Violet took great pride in their home, keeping the grounds immaculate and tending a large vegetable garden together.

For most of his working career, Junior spent his days on the water, lobstering out of Spruce Head. Over the years he captained several of his own boats. Never one to be idle, during the winter he worked cutting trees. At one time he and a friend cut all the trees for the construction of the road around Rackliff Island.

Junior loved Spruce Head and South Thomaston from a young age. He was a co-founder of the South Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department, and in 1994 he was honored for his 47 years of dedicated service to the department. A truck was dedicated to him at the same time. Junior continued his involvement with the department in a limited role for another three years, helping direct traffic and in an administrative role. His 50 years of service will not be forgotten.

Junior will also be long remembered for his “Workshop,” a treasured place where a “secret society” of lobstermen met every Sunday night to swap stories and pass along local news. Although many of the same stories circulated inside the workshop, Junior's knack for story telling kept everyone chuckling, and waiting to hear more.

With a quiet reverence, Junior and his wife dedicated countless hours caring for the Forrest Hill Cemetery situated behind their home. For more than 50 years, he and Violet mowed the lawn, kept the lots cleared and looking good, and made sure each individual buried there received the honor and dignity they deserved. They could often be seen from sun up to sun down, especially on Memorial Day, in the cemetery, making things just right.

Predeceased by a sister, Thelma Burton, Junior is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Violet of Spruce Head; his sons, David Burton of Spruce Head, and Dana Burton and his partner, Kenneth Thompson, of Rockport; and a sister, Violet Karl of Rockland.

Family and friends are invited to visit Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street in Rockland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 147, South Thomaston, ME 04858.