SOUTH PARIS – Richard Henry Box, died peacefully early Sunday morning, April 10, at Market Square Health Care Center, thirteen days after his 94th birthday.

He was born at home in Norway, March 28, 1911, the son of Thomas “Harry” and Alice E. Foster Box, a direct descendent of Priscilla Mullins, Mayflower passenger and Plymouth Plantation settler.

He was a member of the Norway High School Alumni Association, the Class of 1928.

Learning the printing trade at the Norway Advertiser (later the Advertiser-Democrat) he managed his own printing business on the first floor of the Pythian building 1933 to 1936. Managed the Stand Theatre in South Paris 1936 to 1939 and processed water buffalo leather at Paris Tanning 1939 to 1942. During World War II at the age of 30 he chose to serve his country and enlisted in the Army Feb. 1942 to Oct. 1945, serving in the 98th Ordinance Co. (HM TK). He served in North Africa, France and Germany, supervised the leather and canvas production shop in Casablanca and Morocco, with eight Italian prisoners of war and two civilians. This company was awarded the unit citation for mass producing anti-aircraft machine gun sights during the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, he returned to work at Paris Manufacturing Co. and C.B. Cummings and Sons Dowel Mill, later moving to Fryeburg to work at Hall and Smith Dowel Mill. In 1954, he moved to New Haven, Conn., working as a turret lathe operator at M.B. Electronics, making jet engine and other parts for planes and helicopters. Richard relocated to Hackensack, N.J., and was employed as a gunsmith by Stoger Arms Co. and later made gun barrels for Navy Arms Co. in North Bergen, N.J., from whence he retired.

In 1961, he married Helen Savakerin Teaneck, N.J.; she died in Norway, in 1990. In 1991, he married Lucille W. Cannom in South Paris.

He returned to South Paris in 1975 and operated a small gun repair shop, retiring in 1990.

He was a member of the Paris Conservation Committee shortly after it was formed in 1976 and served 11 years. He was a member of the Norway Historical Society and Paris Cape Historical Society. He served as a lay speaker at Deering Memorial United Methodist Church and was an active member of Paris Lodge 94 AF & AM, Oxford Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Oxford Council, Royal and Select Masters, Oriental Commandry, Knights Templar of Bridgton, Oxford Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Floyd A. Harlow VFW Post 9887.

He served on the Norway-Paris Cable TV Committee when the local station was proposed and made numerous programs for it over the years. He learned to operate a camera at the age of 88 and set up his own editing studio soon after that as a joint venture with his wife calling it RicLu Studio. Interviewing community members, RicLu Studios produced inspirational messages that were carried on the local access station.

Richard will be remembered for his insightful thinking,interest in peace and social justice, knowledge of local history, excellent memory and gentlemanly ways. Richard will be sorely missed.

Survivors include his wife of South Paris; two stepsons, William Watson Jr. of Kerrville, Texas, and Warren Watson Sr. of Marydell, Md.; six stepdaughters, Marjorie Easterbrook of Dudley, Mass., Mrs. Francis (Phyllis) Maywhort of Sunset Beach, Calif., Mrs. Robert (MaryLu) Clark of Roanoake, Va., Dr. Nancy Watson (Mrs. Stephen Cairns) of Norway, Mrs. John (NancyLu) Preston of Virginia, Mrs. Donna Blochwitz of Selden, N.Y., and a half sister, Phyllis Barger of Newport, N.C.; 19 grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a half-brother, Norman Hale, and a stepdaughter, Darylene Wallace.

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