WILTON – Philip Luger Sr., 88, passed away on Saturday, May 7, at his home in Wilton.

He was born on Sept. 18, 1916, in New Rochelle, N.Y., the son of Charles J. and Marie (Link) Luger of West Farmington. He was educated in Farmington schools.

He married Norma Phillips, on Sept. 1, 1939, in Strong. They worked and traveled side by side until her death, on April 21, 1990. During his children’s years, they had a camp on David Pond in Vienna, and later bought a camp on the back side of Moosehead Lake where he and his wife spent many happy hours. They lived in Strong next to the Sandy River in a log cabin in their later years.

He built iron melting furnaces during the war. He built up and ran a commercial apple orchard until 1972 in East Wilton, and for a while he owned Macomber’s Mill in West Farmington and Strong Wood Products in partnership with his son-in-law, John DiStefano. He was a skilled carpenter – he built houses, camps, and mill buildings.

His passionate hobby was searching for gold, spending hours on Swift River, winters in Arizona and summers in Alaska dredging and panning for gold. If the streets of heaven are paved in gold – well!

He was a strong, proud man and had a dry sense of humor that often caught you off guard.

He is survived by daughters, Judy Metcalf and husband, John, of Wilton, Suzanne DiStefano and husband, John, of Farmington; sons, Philip Luger Jr., of Wilton, and Charles “Chuck” Luger of Farmington; grandchildren Alfred DiStefano of Temple, Julia Staples and husband, Dana, Karen Ladd and husband, Todd, and Michael DiStefano and fiance, Nancy Bodah, all of Farmington, John Metcalf Jr., of Augusta, Kelly Luger of Portland and Sally Luger of Lewiston; great-grandchildren, Richard and Janel Brooks, Derrek, Joseph, Jacob, Dustin and Alissa Staples, Jessica Ladd, Tonya, Stephen and Ashlynne Bodah, Hailey DiStefano, and Bill, Kristina, Joseph and Robert Metcalf, all of Augusta; sisters, Frances Hoar of Farmington, Edith Smiley of Augusta and Marie Brown of Wilton; a brother, John P. Luger of Dover, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Charles F. and Robert E. Luger.