1925 – 2003

GREENVILLE – Vernon Walter Inman, 78, perished on Sunday, Sept. 14, in a plane crash near Greenville. This tragedy silenced the “Voice in The Tower,” at Fryeburg Fair.

He was born in Lewiston, on Sept. 12, 1925, first son of Roxanna (Baker) and Walter L. Inman. In 1943, he graduated from West Paris High School, where he was active in public speaking, debating, baseball and orchestra. He attended the University of Maine at Orono before enlisting in the United States Army.

Mr. Inman served as a B.A.R man in the 87th Division, 1st Squad, 2nd platoon, Co, E; 347th Infantry Regiment. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, under Gen. Patten. He was wounded and received two purple hearts, The Bronze Star, Combat Infantry and other services awards. Upon discharge from the service, he attended Bryant-Stratton Business College in Boston.

On Aug. 24, 1947, he married Miriam (Piirainen) Inman at the Finnish Congregational Church, in West Paris. They lived in Amesbury, Mass., briefly then returned to West Paris where they brought up their family.

He will be remembered as Postmaster at Paris, as well as other postal positions in West Paris and Bryant Pond. Earlier he was a lapidarist at Perham’s Mineral Store in West Paris, a bricklayer at Oxford Paper Co. in Rumford and other union masonry jobs. For several years he and his brother Milton operated “Inman Bros. Masonry.” Winters he worked for Mt. Abram Ski Area.

He has been a very civic-minded individual, and was admired by many for his talents as moderating at town meetings, entertaining, storytelling, and announcing at Soap Box Derby races.

He was President of the West Paris Cemetery Assoc. and Vice President of the West Paris Historical Society. He was a member of Granite Masonic Lodge 182, Kora Temple Shrine, Ring-Mckeen American Legion Post, V.F.W., West Paris Fire Department, Androx Postmasters, National Association of the Postmasters and West Paris Universalist Church & Master of Ceremonies of the Parisians Orchestra.

He is a former member of the Boy Scout Troop 1320, Troop Committees, West Paris Recreation Board, Pioneer Board, Swinging Bears Square Dance Club, and President of the ” Greenwood City Yacht Club,” at “Bikini Beach”. He also enjoyed spending time fishing and hunting with friends and family. He was involved in many other activities too numerous to mention.

He is survived by two sons, Marshall Inman, Fairbanks, Alaska, Walter Inman and companion, Joyce Lowell of West Paris; two daughters, Virginia Aridas, West Paris and Lady Lake, Fla., Vivian and Charles Sanborn North Conway, N.H.; grandchildren, Todd, Anthony, Brant, Caroline, Vernon G. and Walter Jr.; his brother and best friend, Milton and wife Eleanor, Greenwood City; sister in-law, Mary Inman, South Paris; and many cousins.

He was predeceased by a son, Michael; his wife, Miriam; one brother, Byron Inman; and his son-in-law, William Aridas who has since died from injuries at the same accident.

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