1917 – 2004

WATERVILLE – Ralph Evert Endicott, 86, of Belgrade, passed away Jan. 7, in his sleep at the Lakewood Manor after a lengthy illness.

He was born in Fort Duchesne, Utah, Oct. 22, 1917, the son of Evert and Rhoda (Wright) Endicott.

In 1919, the family moved to the farm that became the Endicott Farm in Belgrade. There he grew up, attended Belgrade schools and graduated from Belgrade High School in 1935.

He developed an interest in aviation as he frequently watched airplanes take off and land at the Augusta airport. Through competition, in which he excelled, he was accepted into the Navy Flight Program, and in 1941, became a naval aerobatics instructor, training many flyers for maneuvers in World War II combat.

Over the next two decades his assignments took him to Morocco, and the Far East, never remaining at any one location for more than two years. After 21 years of service with the U.S. Navy, he retired in 1962, as Lieutenant Commander.

He went on to receive a graduate degree in East Asian Studies and then worked as an education officer for the Department of Defense in East Asia and Washington, D.C.

In 1979, he retired from his work and returned to the family home that he loved in Belgrade. During those years he was involved in his Belgrade community by serving on the Board of Appeals, and assisted with the organization of Belgrade’s 200th Anniversary. He was known for his ready wit, interesting anecdotes, and love of poetry recitation.

Surviving are his wife, Brenda of Belgrade; five children, Willard Evert Endicott of Colonial Heights, Va., Thomas Lynd Endicott of Cleveland, Tenn., John Woodman Endicott of Redondo Beach, Calif., Ross Evert Endicott of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Sharon Endicott of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; his sister, Ruth Freeman MD. of Ogunquit; two stepchildren, Charles Richard of Dyess AFB Texas, and Tina Whalen of Freeport; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

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