1919 – 2003

PHILLIPS – Verne Errold Scribner, 83, died unexpectedly while with friends Wednesday morning, June 25.

Born in Coplin Plantation, Nov. 19, 1919, the son of the late Wallace P. and Effie M. (Wyman) Scribner, he attended the one-room schoolhouse in Coplin and graduated from Stratton High School in 1937.

He worked in the woods and in road construction until enlisting in the service in 1941. He served four years overseas in the Army Corps of Engineers, two and a half years stationed in Iceland and the remainder in England and France, participating in the Normandy Invasion.

After World War II he worked in the logging business and road construction, eventually retiring in 1979 as a supervisor with 33 years at the State of Maine Department of Transportation.

He married Merilyn F. (Wilbur) on May 29, 1948. “Scrib,” as he was often known, enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and his apple orchard and just being “on the go” outdoors. He also liked to share his fruits, vegetables and cider with others.

He and Merilyn both enjoyed fly-fishing and just “getting away” at a camp he built on a remote mountain pond. It was a camp you had to “walk a mile to get to.” He walked into camp in the summer of 2002 with a friend from Michigan.

After retirement, though suffering various and numerous illnesses, he continued to enjoy these pursuits. He and Merilyn spent the last 17 winters in Florida at Silver Lake Campground, where he acted as host for the last few years.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years of Phillips; two sons, Douglas of Harrison and Danny and his wife, Katherine of Portland; and grandsons, John and Matthew; one of six children, he is survived by two brothers, Wallace Jr. of Strong and Sheridan of Eustis.

He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Hilda; and two brothers, Bruce and Leo.