MARS HILL – Orville Kenneth Tripp, 78, of Ashland passed away with the dignity and respect deserving of an honorable man, Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Aroostook Health Center Skilled Care Unit, Mars Hill, after a courageous but brief battle with cancer.

He was born in Casco Nov. 27, 1926, the son of Arthur C. and Gertrude Small Tripp.

He attended school in Poland, and graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn in 1945.

After serving in the United States Air Force, he attended the University of Maine at Orono, graduating in 1951 with a B.S. degree in forest management. He worked for a short time with the U.S. Forest Service in Bangor and Rutland, Vt. In 1952, he went to work as a forester for Great Northern Paper Co., where he worked for 35 years, retiring in 1987 as district manager.

He was a 47-year member of the Pioneer Masonic Lodge No. 72 AF & AM of Ashland. He was raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1958, and was Past Master in 1964.

He was a member of the Union Congregational Church of Ashland, having joined with his wife, Phyllis, on April. 7, 1963. He served as vice president and member-at-large on the executive committee for many years.

He enjoyed traveling with family on many motor home camping trips, seeing and learning from all he experienced, including visits to the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Gettysburg, the Gaspe Peninsula, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Ontario to cross over at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He also took trips by car to Colorado and Niagra Falls.

He enjoyed vegetable gardening and growing various kinds of flowers, but especially enjoyed his prized rose garden. Many benefited from the generosity of “The Rose Man,” as Orville always shared bouquets of beautiful roses. Close to nature in his chosen profession and in life, it was a daily labor of love filling the many bird feeders in his backyard, even creating a maze of paths all winter with the snow blower to be able to reach his feathered friends. As an animal lover, with many birds, cats and dogs, he was known to rescue dogs from the shelter. Two of his favorites were beagles – one with vision problems, and one with hearing defects.

Orville also did woodworking and made beautiful furniture for his children to take home with them. He was an avid golfer, and in 1990 scored a hole-in-one at the Portage Hills Country Club. He was awarded a lifetime pass to the North Maine Woods, an honor, as only 35 are issued at any one time. Never one to boast about his accomplishments, he was a private and humble man.

He is survived by his son, John Tripp and his wife, Maureen, of Scarborough; four daughters, Marlene Jimmo and her husband, Richard Sr., of Ashland, Sharon Newhouse of Presque Isle, Cathy Gallant and her husband, Michael, of Waterboro, Barbara Tomaselli and her husband, Michael, of Salem, N.H.; seven grandchildren, Vicki Jo Elbrecht and husband, Duane, Richard Jimmo Jr. and wife, Laura, Jodi Reese and husband,Everett, Alyssa Hoggatt and companion, Doc Manning, Jason Hoggatt, Amanda Gallant, and Nicole Tomaselli; seven great-grandchildren, Heather and Patrick Jimmo, Emily and Gabrielle Reese, Lucas and Dylan Manning and Ethan Elbrecht.

He is also survived by three sisters, Ruby Tripp and Beverly Tripp, both of Poland, and Patricia Newyear of Corpus Christie, Texas.

On Oct. 13, 2004, Orville was predeceased by his beloved wife, best friend and companion, Phyllis F. Tripp of Ashland, whom he married on Oct. 18, 1952. He was also predeceased by his parents; and two brothers, Carl Tripp and Donald Tripp.