1915 – 2003

AUBURN – Russell A. Dexter, 87, a resident of Auburn, died Sept. 30, following a long illness.

The son of Carl M. and Annie Morse Dexter, he was born in Sugar Hill, N.H., Oct. 12, 1915. He graduated in 1933 from Littleton (N.H.) High School.

In 1937 he married Margaret Herbert of Franconia, N.H., and she predeceased him in 1972. He married second in 1973, Elizabeth (Betty) Hempstead of Auburn, who survives.

He began his career in office machines in Littleton, N.H., which was interrupted during World War II, when he worked building Liberty Ships in Portland and with service in the U.S. Marine Corps at the close of the war.

Moving to Calais, he owned Dexter Office Supply from 1946-1952. In 1952 he came to Auburn and became a salesman for West Business Machines in Lewiston, retiring from there in 1977 as service manager.

He was a member of the Auburn Advent Christian Church, where he served in many capacities, including church moderator, church school superintendent and teacher, deacon and choir member. He was also active in Betty’s church, the United Methodist Church of Auburn, where he began their men’s fellowship and for two summers was a counselor at Camp Mechuwana’s sessions for developmentally handicapped adults. For several years he volunteered at Madison Street School, where he helped developmentally handicapped children with woodworking. An avid Bible reader, he read it at least 23 times in various translations.

He was a 32nd degree Mason, going through both the York and Scottish Rites. He served as master of Rabboni Lodge, high priest of the Bradford Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, master of Dunlap Council, Royal and Selected Masters and commander of Lewiston Commandery, Knights Templar.

An avid outdoorsman, he and Betty enjoyed their log cabin at Lake Onawa and many camping trips to remote Maine lakes. Other travel took them to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Florida, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Arizona and Mexico.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, David H. and his wife, Nancy Hohmann of Norway; adult stepgrandsons and their wives, Seth and Elizabeth Chadbourne of North Carolina, and Adam and Alison Chadbourne of Utah; a stepgranddaughter, Alden Chadbourne of Norway; nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews; a brother-in-law, Archie Herbert of Franconia, N.H.; and sisters-in-law, Helen Dexter of Jewett City, Conn., and Mary Hemman of Norwood, Mass., and their extended families.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Corydon C. and Carl Dexter.