Robert "Gabby" Keith Place

Robert “Gabby” Keith Place passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on September 26th, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. Robert was born in Sanford, Maine on October 13th, 1943. He grew up on his family’s farm in North Berwick and met Phyllis in 1961 after her family moved to Maine. Shortly after moving to Maine, Robert and Phyllis began a life-long relationship where they would travel to the beach and visit during farm chores. They eventually married in November 1965 before Robert deployed to South Korea after enlisting in the U.S. Army. Upon return, Robert and Phyllis lived in Fort Hood, Texas until his enlistment concluded where he was honorably discharged from the Army at the rank of Specialist Five in 1968. They then returned to North Berwick and purchased their first home where Robert proceeded to build the family house while working at Hussey Seating Company. Robert worked at Hussey as a Welder, Supervisor, and in Research and Development until retiring in 2007 after 44 years of employment with the company. He then began a part-time career in the Marshwood School District as a Custodian and as an employee for the Town of North Berwick.

Robert is survived by his wife of 59 years Phyllis Place, daughter Christine, daughter Melissa, son Michael (wife Denise), son Kenneth (wife Leslie), granddaughter Katie (husband Benjamin), grandson Matthew (wife Adrianne), grandson Nicholas, grandson Dylan, granddaughter Moriah (husband Joshua), granddaughter Keana, great-granddaughter Lila, great-granddaughter Maci, great-granddaughter Skylar, great-granddaughter Ashlyn, great-granddaughter Maggie, great-grandson Luke, and many other beloved siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and family members.

Robert was a very active lifetime member of the American Legion (Berwick post 79) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW South Berwick post 5744). The family requests donations to the American Legion or VFW in lieu of flowers with the memo “in Memory of Robert Place” for the establishment of a memorial scholarship in his honor.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2024 1pm-3pm with a Funeral Service at 3pm at Bethel Christian Church, 129 Lower Main St. North Berwick Maine.  Burial will be Thursday October 3, 2024 at 10am at Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery, Springvale, Maine. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, North Berwick, Maine. 

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