ELLSWORTH – Vincent L. (Bud) Donnell, 83, died March 12 at an Ellsworth hospital.

He was born in Franklin, Dec. 15, 1921, the son of Theodore Augustus and Ruth (Tracy) Donnell.

He attended schools in and graduated from Ellsworth High School.

He served in the South Pacific during World War II as a member of the U.S. Marines. After his discharge, he came home to Ellsworth where he worked as a chef in the family business, Tracy’s Restaurant, formerly located on Main Street.

He was interested in law enforcement and joined the Ellsworth Police Department and then the Maine State Police from which he retired as a lieutenant, after 22 years of service, 1951 to 1973.

After retirement, Bud and Dorcas built their log home at Molasses Pond in Eastbrook, a place he loved and thoroughly enjoyed.

Not one to sit still, he went to work for Key Bank for several years and then Hall Security. He served as selectman for the town of Eastbrook, and for a time, was the baker of brown bread for the local Grange suppers.

Bud and his second wife, Sylvia, settled in Ellsworth and Eastbrook. They took a long dreamed of trip to Australia and New Zealand, and enjoyed their large family as it grew with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bud loved impromptu family picnics at Molasses Pond and hosting his annual Christmas gathering for all of his family. Bud touched a lot of lives in his many years of public service, and the many, sometimes funny stories of remembrances are a consolation to his family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia W. Allen; daughters, Mary D. Townley of Franklin, Deborah and husband, Jerry Blais, of Lewiston, Rebecca and husband, Robert Grindle, of Franklin, Katherine “Kate” Donnell of Ellsworth; sons, Thomas and wife, Peg, of Orrington, Timothy and wife, Jane, of Calais, Hugh and wife, Pat, of Collierville, Tenn., James and wife, Rita, of Colebrook, N.H., and Edward “Ted” and wife, Vonna, of Gouldsboro; grandchildren, Deborah Lurvey, James Townley, Stephanie Grindle, William Grindle of Franklin, Jody Wills of Lewiston, Matthew Blais of Florida, Kimberly Donnell of Orrington, Kevin Donnell of Florida, Nathan and Tracy Donnell of Colebrook, N.H., Eric Donnell of Calais, Molly Elizabeth Donnell of Collierville, Tenn., Casey and Jared Donnell of Gouldsboro and Paul Marshall of Freeport; great-grandchildren, Alex and CJ Lurvey of Franklin, Jeff and Caden Wills of Lewiston and Celeste Blais of Germany. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Douglas of Bar Harbor; stepsister, Sheila Graves of Northeast Harbor; stepdaughters, Patricia Marshall and husband, John, of Ellsworth, Gloria Sickelsmith and husband, Randall, of Florida; cousins, Tracy Dorgan, Ruth West and Theresa Gooch.

He leaves many loving nieces and nephews who looked up to and loved “Uncle Bud.” Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Carolyn Smallidge, Jane Smallidge, Lois Keefer and husband, Richard, and Gloria Burton; brothers-in-law, Robert Smallidge and wife, Erma, John Smallidge and wife, Doris, and John Whitmore and wife, Ronelda.

Bud was predeceased by the mother of his children, Dorcas Smallidge Donnell; and a sister, Barbara Boyer.