SPRING HILL, Fla. – Gaston “Gus” Gauthier, 72, of 11226 Chickasaw Drive died Feb. 4 at his home.

He was born in Lewiston, March 14, 1933, the son of Josephat and Simonne G. (Bergeron) Gauthier, formerly of 435 Old Greene Road, Lewiston. He had lived in Florida for the last several years and previously lived in South Carolina, Ohio and Maine.

He was a disabled Marine veteran of the Korean War, during which he was hit by mortar and grenade in September and October 1952, while in combat in a part of Korea called “The Hook” near the 38th parallel. Severely wounded from shrapnel wounds, he was captured by the Chinese in 1952 and spent 10 months as a POW. He was released on Aug. 24, 1953.

While serving in Korea, he earned the Korean Service Medal with one star, Purple Heart with one star, Good Conduct Medal, U.N. Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal (first award). In 1985, he served as junior commander of the Maine Chapter of the Ex-POWs.

Besides his wife, Nancy of Florida; he is survived by a son, Andy; one daughter, Sue Bowman of Lewiston; two stepdaughters, Katherine Turner of Greens Norton, England, and Karen Cummings of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; one sister, Muquette “Mickey” Madore; one brother, Bob Gauthier of Lewiston; one granddaughter, Ashley Bowman of Lewiston; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents.