BOSTON – Robert Daniel Houde, 54, of Bridgton Road, Westbrook, died Sept. 3, at Tufts New England Medical Center.

He was born in Rumford, on Nov. 16, 1949, a son of Roch J. and Jeanette Theresa Martineau Houde. “Bob” attended local schools in Rumford and was a 1968 graduate of Stephens High School. He also attended Westbrook College.

He served in Vietnam with the Navy during the military conflict. He was a member of Swasey Torrey American Legion Post 100 of Dixfield.

For over 27 years, he was employed as a papermaker with S.D. Warren and Sapi Paper companies, retiring in 1999.

He had many hobbies and interests, including camping, boating at Sebago Lake, skating, dancing, snowmobiling, travel, and spending lots of time in Standish with his aunt, Joann Morin. He enjoyed attending automobile racing events with his best friend, Andy Francoeur.

He was a very giving person; he donated blood frequently at the Red Cross. He participated in United Way sponsored charity walks. He was a faithful contributor to the Bruce Roberts Fund each Christmas. In 1965, he played Santa Claus for the family Christmas celebration.

He loved to laugh, tell jokes and have fun. He was extremely neat and orderly throughout his life, and anything and everything had its proper place.

He liked caring for his yard. As a very good neighbor, snowstorms would find him snow blowing some of his neighbor’s yards. Summer would find him mowing the very same yards he took care of in the winter. He was also a liberated man, and had no problems helping with housework of all sorts. He was a devout Catholic, and was a communicant of St. Anne’s Church, Gorham.

He is survived by his mother, Jeanette Knox, of Dunnellin, Fla.; his wife, Wendy Stringfellow, of Wesbrook; his former wife and friend, Cheryl Houde, of South Portland; a daughter, Julie Houde Corey, of Yarmouth; a sister, Marie Estelle Gill, of Sabattus; two brothers, Rudy Houde, of Aurora, Colo., and Gary Houde, of North Glenn, Colo.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Roch, and a brother, Wayne Houde.