BIDDEFORD – Andrew W. Delekto, 81, a resident of Lincoln Street, passed away Friday evening on Jan. 28, surrounded by his family, at Southridge Living Center in Biddeford, after a long illness.

He was born in Auburn, on Nov. 29, 1923, a son of John and Katherine Rzasa Delekto. “Andy” attended schools in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School. He also received a degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.

On May 31, 1954, he married Marie Raymond at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Saco.

Andy was employed by Continental Mills in Lewiston. He then went to work at Raytheon in Waltham, Mass. During that time, he attended Northeastern College’s night school program. He returned to Maine and worked for Portland Machine Tool in South Portland, Precision Screw and Machine Shop in Biddeford, and retired in 1990 from the Reece Corporation in Gorham.

Andy was a devoted father and grandfather and was loved by all who met him. He always found time for a number of hobbies, which included gardening, chatting on his HAM radio (WA 1 KBD), playing his harmonica, feeding the birds, and puttering around in his basement workshop.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Southridge Living Center and Beacon Hospice Care for their tireless care and support of Andy.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marie Raymond Delekto, of Saco; one son, Mark Delekto and his wife, Debra, of Fairfax Station, Va.; two daughters, Ann Patterson and her husband, Keith, of Saco, Katherine Doyon and her husband, Steve, of Loudon, N.H.; three grandsons, John Delekto of Fairfax Station, Va., and Samuel and Matthew Doyon of Loudon, N.H.; two granddaughters, Nicole and Michelle Patterson of Saco; two sisters, Blanche Biker of Auburn, and Wanda Nolin of Boothbay Harbor; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Rose Wilson and Evelyn Gibson; and one brother, Paul Delekto.