ROCKLAND — The Rev. Walter B. Wakeman, 87, entered into the presence of his Lord, of whom he preached all his career, April 6, 2014, at Windward Gardens in Camden, after a period of declining health.

Born in Laconia, N.H., Nov. 24, 1926, he was the son of Ray E. and Vinnie M. Tibbetts Wakeman. Educated in local schools, he was a 1944 graduate of Laconia High School.

That same fall, he began studies at Gordon College, then located in Boston, Mass. While at that college, Walter served on kitchen duty, and while working in the kitchen, he met an upper classman, Arlene Bartlett of Rockland, Maine. They courted throughout their time at the college.

Following Walter's graduation from Gordon College in 1948, the couple were married July 30, 1948, at a ceremony in the original Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church in Rockland.

Over the years he served American Baptist churches in Dryden, Maine, and Pocasset and Roxbury, Mass. While serving in Pocasset, he continued his education at Gordon School of Divinity. Rev. Wakeman's fourth pastorate returned his family to Maine, to the First Baptist Church of Dexter. He later served churches in Bath, Belfast, Rumford, Jefferson, Calais and Shapleigh, where he retired from full-time ministry.

In his retirement, Rev. Wakeman served with the American Baptist Church Association's Minister at Large program. In that capacity he served as interim pastor in various churches in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Maine and Vermont.

Not only was Rev. Wakeman devoted to his Lord, his family and church, but he also found time to be an accomplished woodworker. He enjoyed sailing, gardening, hunting, fishing, camping and photography.

He was instrumental in establishment of the ABC of Maine, China Lake Campground and Conference Center, and served as one of the first directors.

In recent years, he has been an active member of Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church, where he extended particular service to the Pen Bay Christian School. Many remember Rev. Wakeman's rich bass voice leading a song service or singing a solo.

Besides his wife of 66 years, Arlene Bartlett Wakeman of Rockland; he is survived by one son, Andrew B. Wakeman and his wife, Michelle, of Belfast; two daughters, Barbara J. Studebaker and her husband, William, of Rockland, and Beth J. St.Cyr and her husband, Philip, of Sanford; eight grandchildren, Jeremy St.Cyr and his wife, Jocelyn, of Arlington, Mass., Benjamin St.Cyr of Rockland, Nathaniel Wakeman of Manassas, Va., Jesse Wakeman of Portland, Emily Wakeman of Belfast, Sara Studebaker and Robert Studebaker, both of Winchester, Va., and Rachel Lowes and her husband, Eric, of Richmond, Va.; as well as three great-grandchildren, Eli St.Cyr, and Allison and Anthony Fasso.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Wednesday, April 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland. A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 10, at 3:30 p.m. at Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church, 1 Waldo Ave. in Rockland. The Rev. Dr. Branan Becknell will officiate. Private interment will be at a later date in West Washington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pen Bay Christian Schools, 1 Waldo Ave., Rockland, ME 04841.