FARMINGTON – Harold H. “Stub” Hemingway, 93, of Farmington, died early, Tuesday morning, Sept. 15, 2009 at his home in Farmington surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on, Sept. 21, 1915, in Farmington the son of Frank and Sadie M. (Stoddard) Hemingway. He graduated from Farmington High School in 1934 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1945-46 in Saipan.
Stub was very involved in the local Farmington community through his various employment and time with public safety. He was an active member of the Farmington Fire Dept. for over 67 years, joining in February of 1942. He was promoted to captain in February of 1978 and then designated as one of two senior captains in January of 2001. He served as a Franklin County Deputy Sheriff for the major part of 50 years, actively serving under five sheriffs starting in the spring of 1959.
He was originally made an honorary deputy sheriff by Sheriff Dennis C. Pike and then sworn in as a deputy sheriff again in October of 2007, but as an inactive member of the department. During his service as a deputy, he began as a turnkey and dispatcher working weekends. For many years he was a security officer for Franklin County Superior Court. His role as a court messenger was to provide direct security and service to the presiding justice. He graduated from the first formal court security officer training program in 1988. He also worked for the University of Maine at Farmington for campus police full time 18 years, retiring in 1981. He also served as a reserve officer for the Farmington Police Dept for over 20 years, working ballgames and dances.
With all of his service in public safety, Stub also worked for Coca Cola for approximately 28 years, was a 65-year member of the Maine Lodge 20 AF & AM, a 27-year member of the Farmington Elks Lodge and a member of the Roderick-Crosby American Legion.
He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping, especially at Happy Horseshoe campground, was an avid cribbage player, a Red Sox fan and enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labor in the garden with his family, friends and neighbors. He also loved to watch the Blue Angels when they came to Brunswick. He had a great sense of humor which stayed with him until the end.
He was a member of the Maine State Federation of Firefighters and the National Sheriff’s Association.
Stub is survived by daughter, Sherry Walker and son-in-law, Wayne Walker of Farmington; daughter Betty Oliver and friend, Vernon Jordan of Millinocket; son, Scott Hemingway and wife, Alice of Biddeford; grandchildren, Dean Walker, Janis Walker, John Sincyr, Troy Sincyr, Michele Grass, Kallee Frigon and Jamey Hemingway; great grandchildren Nicholas Campbell, Jenna Campbell, Alisha Gee, Jessica Bougie, Chelsea Sincyr, Audrey Grass, Emily Grass, Monica Grass, Marley Frigon and Sadie May Frigon; brothers, Walter Hemingway and his wife, Maxine of Temple, Richard Hemingway and friend, Joyce of Rumford; nieces and nephews; longtime companion, Shirley Witherall. He was predeceased by five brothers, Leon, Robert, Willis, Raymond and Frank Hemingway; six sisters, Romayne Hobert, Viola Cook, Mildred Hemingway, Bertha Hellgren, Ina Eckert and Barbara Lyman.
Funeral services with full honors will be held, 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 at the Wiles Funeral Home, Cremation Service & Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington. Family and friends are invited to call 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17, at the funeral home with a Masonic service by the Maine Lodge 20 AF & AM to take place at 6:30 p.m. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Farmington.
Gifts may be given in his memory to the Farmington Fire Department’s Benevolent Fund, 153 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington, ME 04938. Words of condolence may be sent via e-mail to info@wilesrc.com
