LEWISTON – Winfield L. Hildreth, 72, died in Lewiston on Thursday, July 21, the son of Winfield C. and Mavis A. Bradbury Hildreth.

He was born in Lewiston on July 22, 1932. He graduated from Edward Little High School with the Class of 1950, and attended both the former Auburn Maine School of Commerce and Bliss Business School.

He was proud of the fact that he received his first paycheck on his 15th birthday from the Orestis family business, American Linen, where he continued working for the next five years.

In 1952, he entered the U.S. Army and served three years on active duty with 17 months in Korea, the first three months before the cease-fire was signed.

When he returned home, he immediately joined the Army National Guard, serving six-and-a-half years with one year of active duty when President Kennedy activated the Guard to supplement regular army troops, due to the Berlin crisis.

His second civilian job was with the former R.I. Mitchell Co., where he worked as an inventory clerk for two years before going to Geiger Bros. for the next 40 years before retiring. He completed 50 full years of employment, all for privately-owned companies, other than his military service.

He attended Trinity Epsicopal Church as a young boy. In the 1950s, he became a member of St. Michael’s in Auburn. He served in many capacities, including teaching Sunday school, choir, parish treasurer, and clerk of the vestry. He was often a delegate to the diocesan convention and was the first layperson in the parish to be licensed to administer the chalice. He was also licensed by four bishops beginning with Bishop Loring as a lay reader. He conducted the service of Martin for many years.

He is survived by brothers, Anthony D. Hildreth and wife, Bessie, Charles A. Hildreth and wife, Nancy; sisters, Mildred L. VanHam and husband, Robert, Gloria M. Drew and husband, Dana, Natalie V. Spiller, and Shirley Kavanaugh and husband, Daniel; his childhood friend since the age of 11, George Odencrantz; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, and a brother-in-law, Edward W. Spiller.

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