CAMDEN — Gilbert “Gil” Marriner, 94, died at Quarry Hill Retirement Community in the early hours of Tuesday, November 2, 2021 after a brief illness.

Gil was born and raised in Camden, the son of Clyde and Arline Marriner.

Gil was a devoted husband to the love of his life, Arlene for over 66 years. The two met at the filling station on the corner of Union and Main Street in Camden. Gil was the station owner’s son and took a liking to Arlene when she pulled up in her pickup truck. The two were married on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949. They enjoyed each other’s company, traveled to many destinations together, were loyal companions and rarely apart. The couple made their home in Rockport and also enjoyed their winter home in Florida. Including the year of his passing, Gil continued to enjoy his winters in Florida, where he spent time for over 40 years.

Gil was a graduate of Camden High School, class of 1945. He later attended the Maine Maritime Academy and then enlisted with the Army National Guard before being called to active duty with the United States Army. While married, he was stationed in Georgia. During this time, his first child was born. As told to his granddaughter, in order to get home to his family, he took a train to Boston, hitchhiked to Maine, hopped on a milk truck to Portland and arrived home the day after his daughter, Linda, was born. Later, they would add fraternal twins Michael and Jeffrey to their family.

In the 1950s, Gil and his father, Clyde, began the business of tarring roads from their filling station in Camden. Later, the business evolved into “Clyde Marriner Trucking and Paving” and subsequently into the asphalt paving company named Marriner’s Inc. After Clyde’s retirement, Gil and Arlene took over the business and later ran the company together with their children.

Gil was a proud member of Freemasons for over 73 years, joining the organization in 1948. He was a Master Mason and received many service awards during his membership, including a 50 Year Service Medal. He was also a long time contributor to the Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

Other organizations that Gil was a member of included Rotary International, where he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow award, and Elks Club International.

At an early age, Gil developed a passion for flying and in addition to obtaining his pilot’s license, at one point owned his own plane. He was also an avid boater, both in Maine and Florida. Perhaps his most memorable boat name was “The Tranquilizer” and the small dingy named “The Pill.” He was a sports fan, mostly for The Boston Red Sox as well as tournament PGA golf. He and his wife, Arlene, enjoyed playing golf together in their free time. He also enjoyed instrumental music and was known to have “Seriously Sinatra” playing in his vehicle.

Gil had a soft spot for animals and as a young family, there were many animals including ducks, chickens, rabbits, cats and dogs. In the final years of his life, his loyal companion was his beloved Persian cat “Tuffy.” They traveled together back and forth to Florida. She was an important part of his life, even until his final hours.

His family was a source of pride and he loved being together with them, and they loved him equally as much in return. He was known by all that knew him as an easy-going, kind, generous, humble man and a joy to be around. He truly was a one-of-a-kind, gentle soul who left a positive impact on everyone he met, no matter who they were.

Mr. Marriner is survived by his daughter, Linda Durrell and her husband Stephen of Placida, Florida; his twin sons, Michael Marriner and his wife Sheila of Lincolnville and Rotunda, Florida, and Jeffrey Marriner and his wife Ivy of Thomaston and Rotunda, Florida; five grandchildren, Heather Robinson of Portland, Sarah Marriner and her husband Gabe Gaudette of Searsmont, Tiffany Marriner of Union, Zachary Marriner and his wife Lauren of Marietta, Georgia, and Stacy McCarthy and her husband Jason of Memphis, Tennessee; and one great-granddaughter, Sydney Robinson of Portland.

A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at Mt. View Cemetery, Camden Maine. Friends are invited to join the family for an informal celebration of life, Wednesday, November 10, from 4 to 6 p.m., at The Cellar Door Winery, 367 Youngtown Road, Lincolnville.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gil may be made to PAWS Animal Adoption Center, P.O. Box 707, Rockport, ME 04856; or Shriners Children’s Hospitals for Children, Attn: Processing Center, P.O. Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.

To share a memory or story with Mr. Marriner’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.