Obituary for Ronald L Stuart
Ronald L. Stuart of Waterboro, only ten days after being celebrated with a 98th birthday party, passed away on August 30, 2022, at his assisted living “home” in Scarborough after a brief decline in health.
Ron was born August 19, 1924 on the West Road, Waterboro, the fifth child of Erving and Mildred (May) Stuart. He enjoyed sharing his memories of attending the Old Corner School until 1932 when the family moved to the Ossipee Hill Road in Waterboro Center. From there he attended the East Waterboro Grammar School.
Soon after their marriage, Ron and his wife Adelaide (Stewart) Stuart moved to Wells. Ron became a single father after his divorce and proudly raised Charlotte and Eugene there on his own.
During high school, Ron worked with his father building stone walls in Waterboro and surrounding towns. He was also employed at the yarn mills in Limerick, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and for about eight years at the Goodall Mills in Sanford. After working for John Darling’s Septic Service for one summer, he landed a job in 1955 as a member of the service crew at the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Wells Water District. In about 1960 he transferred to the meter shop where he tested, repaired and inventoried meters until his retirement in December, 1989. The expertise of “Stu,” as he was known at KK&W, could not be matched. And after his retirement he was never known to refuse an invitation to attend a KK&W social gathering.
Meanwhile he built a new home for his mother in South Waterboro where they lived together until her death in 1991. He continued to live there alone and was recurringly referred to as “the man outside working on his lawn next to the golf cart place.” Much of his time inside his home was spent on collecting a massive, carefully catalogued obituary collection from three or more local newspapers. This collection will be donated to the Brick Store Museum.
In keeping with the Stuart heritage of operating a greenhouse, he had a lifelong love of gardening. He regularly reported on the progress - or lack of progress - of his tomato plants.
He often volunteered to provide handyman services to the “old ladies” around town and counted them as his friends, concerned about their welfare. He was a long-time supporter of the Waterborough Historical Society, having donated for display at the Taylor/Frey/Levitt House Museum a wind-up Victrola previously owned by his Aunt Laura May and his father’s shot gun accompanied by a photo of Erving holding same. Prior to his hearing loss, he usually attended their programs.
He never ceased to enjoy having family members and friends stop in for a visit.
Ron was sadly predeceased by both of his children, Charlotte Hopkins in 2020 and Eugene Stuart in 2012. He also outlived all six of his Stuart siblings and a grandson James Christopher Hoover. He is survived by three grandchildren: Shannon Stuart of Springvale and Fairhaven, MA; Teresa Hoover of Litchfield, NH; and William Hoover also of Litchfield, NH. He leaves behind twelve great grandchildren and eleven great, great grandchildren plus a twelfth expected soon.
Also surviving him are many nieces and nephews. Nieces Brenda Hamilton, Pam Johnson and Linda Hanscom were privileged to be in charge of his care during the last few years.
A funeral service will be held at Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak Street, Alfred, on Saturday, September 10, at 11:00 a.m. preceded by visiting hours starting at 10. A graveside service will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery South on the West Road in South Waterboro.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at Ronald’s Book of Memories at www.bibbersautumngreen.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Waterborough Historical Society, PO Box 498, North Waterboro, ME 04061 or Friends of Old Corner Church, 265 Chadbourne Ridge Road, North Waterboro, ME 04061.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak St., in Alfred.
Ron was born August 19, 1924 on the West Road, Waterboro, the fifth child of Erving and Mildred (May) Stuart. He enjoyed sharing his memories of attending the Old Corner School until 1932 when the family moved to the Ossipee Hill Road in Waterboro Center. From there he attended the East Waterboro Grammar School.
Soon after their marriage, Ron and his wife Adelaide (Stewart) Stuart moved to Wells. Ron became a single father after his divorce and proudly raised Charlotte and Eugene there on his own.
During high school, Ron worked with his father building stone walls in Waterboro and surrounding towns. He was also employed at the yarn mills in Limerick, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and for about eight years at the Goodall Mills in Sanford. After working for John Darling’s Septic Service for one summer, he landed a job in 1955 as a member of the service crew at the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Wells Water District. In about 1960 he transferred to the meter shop where he tested, repaired and inventoried meters until his retirement in December, 1989. The expertise of “Stu,” as he was known at KK&W, could not be matched. And after his retirement he was never known to refuse an invitation to attend a KK&W social gathering.
Meanwhile he built a new home for his mother in South Waterboro where they lived together until her death in 1991. He continued to live there alone and was recurringly referred to as “the man outside working on his lawn next to the golf cart place.” Much of his time inside his home was spent on collecting a massive, carefully catalogued obituary collection from three or more local newspapers. This collection will be donated to the Brick Store Museum.
In keeping with the Stuart heritage of operating a greenhouse, he had a lifelong love of gardening. He regularly reported on the progress - or lack of progress - of his tomato plants.
He often volunteered to provide handyman services to the “old ladies” around town and counted them as his friends, concerned about their welfare. He was a long-time supporter of the Waterborough Historical Society, having donated for display at the Taylor/Frey/Levitt House Museum a wind-up Victrola previously owned by his Aunt Laura May and his father’s shot gun accompanied by a photo of Erving holding same. Prior to his hearing loss, he usually attended their programs.
He never ceased to enjoy having family members and friends stop in for a visit.
Ron was sadly predeceased by both of his children, Charlotte Hopkins in 2020 and Eugene Stuart in 2012. He also outlived all six of his Stuart siblings and a grandson James Christopher Hoover. He is survived by three grandchildren: Shannon Stuart of Springvale and Fairhaven, MA; Teresa Hoover of Litchfield, NH; and William Hoover also of Litchfield, NH. He leaves behind twelve great grandchildren and eleven great, great grandchildren plus a twelfth expected soon.
Also surviving him are many nieces and nephews. Nieces Brenda Hamilton, Pam Johnson and Linda Hanscom were privileged to be in charge of his care during the last few years.
A funeral service will be held at Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak Street, Alfred, on Saturday, September 10, at 11:00 a.m. preceded by visiting hours starting at 10. A graveside service will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery South on the West Road in South Waterboro.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at Ronald’s Book of Memories at www.bibbersautumngreen.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Waterborough Historical Society, PO Box 498, North Waterboro, ME 04061 or Friends of Old Corner Church, 265 Chadbourne Ridge Road, North Waterboro, ME 04061.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak St., in Alfred.