Wayne A. Smith, 83, of North Berwick passed away peacefully January 29, 2019 in the Varney Crossing Nursing Home in North Berwick, ME.
He was born June 26, 1935 in Milo, ME, the youngest of seven children born to Lavern C. and Florence D. (Fletcher) Smith and attended Derby and Milo Schools. He spoke often and fondly of the many summers his very large family spent enjoying their camp on Little Boyd Lake.
A graduate of Milo High School, Wayne (“Lanky” to his friends) was a star basketball player, leading his team to the New England championship his senior year. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1954 and served in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was very proud of working overtime cleaning the base movie theatre which allowed him to save enough money to purchase a brand-new Volkswagen Beetle which he shipped home and drove for many years. After his military service, Wayne graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Husson College, where he also played basketball. There, he met and married Loretta Dion in 1961. They were married for 15 years before her passing in 1976.
Wayne lived in Wells, ME where he raised his children and worked as a business teacher, athletic director and coach at Wells High School for nearly 20 years. He married Janet (Goodale) Griffin in 1977. Together for 41 years, they laughed and lived in E. Corinth, Sebec, Camden, Hope, and N. Berwick, ME. In “retirement” Wayne worked as a school bus driver, log home builder, and as a courier for Camden National Bank. Throughout his life he was very active, building homes and enjoying the outdoors. Wayne had an outstanding work ethic. His one of a kind nature, easy smile, and dry sense of humor will forever be missed
He was pre-deceased by his parents as well as his brothers, Harry Smith, Gerald Smith, and Beverly Smith; sisters Pauline Albee, Shirley Clukey, and Annabelle Titcomb. Surviving are his wife, Janet Smith; his son, Steven Smith and wife Kathleen of Troy, ME; two daughters, Kelly Michaud and husband Edward of Wells, ME, and Susan Smith of N. Berwick, ME; stepson Michael Griffin and wife Valerie of Rochester, NH, two stepdaughters, Ruth Griffin and her husband Michael Coleman of Rockport, ME, and Mary Bouchard and her husband Tom of Wells, ME; many grandchildren, and great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A time of visitation will be held Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 2pm to 3:30 pm immediately followed by a Celebration of Wayne’s Life at 3:30 pm and Military Honors at the Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market Street, No. Berwick, ME. Contributions may be made to the Varney Crossing Activity Fund, 47 Elm Street, North Berwick, ME 03906. Spring interment in Oceanview Cemetery, Wells, ME. Condolences may be expressed at www.JohnsonFuneralHomeME.com
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