DIXFIELD – Samuel Skibitsky, 89, of Dixfield, formerly of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., died Thursday evening, Feb. 17, at his home in Dixfield.

He was born Feb. 16, 1916, in Brooklyn, N.Y., a son of William and Julia (Davidowsky) Skibitsky, who immigrated from the Ukraine in the early 1900s.

He graduated from high school in 1933 and worked for more than 30 years as a photo engraver.

He joined the Army in 1941 and was part of the Seventh Armored Division, serving under Gen. George Patton and was part of the Battle of the Bulge.

He received the Bronze Star for meritorious service. He remained in the Army Reserves and was recalled for duty in 1950 as an intelligence analyst at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts.

He later enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves for a period of 12 years, serving out of Ft. Schuyler, N.Y. He was discharged in 1976 after 20 years of military service.

He was married to the former Katherine Reut in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1949.

Katherine and Samuel lived in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., until 1990, when they moved to Dixfield. Katherine died in February of 2002.

“Sam” was active in the Swasey-Torrey Post 100 of the American Legion and the Rumford and Dixfield Senior Citizens groups.

Although Russian Orthodox by heritage, he enjoyed attending the Dixfield Congregational Church.

Sam was cared for in his home by his devoted grandson, Ben and his wife, Becky, for the last three years of his life, with the assistance of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice in the final weeks.

He is survived by two sons, Eugene Skibitsky and his wife, Leslie, of Dixfield, and William Skibitsky and his wife, Debi, of Sanford, N.C.; eight grandchildren, Benjamin Skibitsky and his wife, Rebecca, David Skibitsky, Scott Skibitsky and Meredith Skibitsky, Tara and Robert Levinson, Timothy and Elaine Skibitsky, Jeff and Megan Skibitsky and Lacey Skibitsky; four great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Samuel Skibitsky and Nicholas and Reed Levinson; and two brothers, Andrew and Anthony Skibitsky.

He was predeceased by a sister, Lydia.