AUGUSTA – Richard F. Cadwell Jr., 80, of 550 College St., Lewiston, died Friday, March 24, at the Maine Veterans’ Home surrounded by his family, after a short illness.

He was born in Lewiston on May 31, 1925, the son of Richard F. Sr. and Esther M. (Record) Cadwell and had been a resident of this community all of his life. He was educated in Lewiston schools.

He was married to the former Patricia O’Leary on Oct. 25, 1944. She died on Jan. 11, 2002. He was employed at the Lewiston Fire Department from 1949 to 1977. He initially served as a vacation replacement and retired as a captain.

He served with the U.S. Navy in World War II from Jan. 13, 1944 to Oct. 16, 1946. He had served as a baker on the U.S.S. Metivier DE-582 touring in the Pacific and Atlantic Theatre. He also participated in the operations crossroads with the post war First Atomic Bomb Test.

He was the president of the Maine State Federation of Firefighters for five years. He was the vice president of the Pine Tree Foundation for Burn Treatment, which raised funds to support a uniformly high level of burn care at several hospitals. He was also an employee of the State of Maine Department of Education and Cultural Services, receiving a teaching certificate in vocational and technical training, serving as a certified fire training instructor for 15 years.

He was a member of the VFW Post 1150, an active member of the Red Cross, lifetime member of the Maine State Federation of Firefighters and a former member of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors.

He enjoyed reading, traveling, gardening and dining out. He had a great sense of humor and was a good story teller.

He is survived by one daughter, Donna Hanish and her husband, Robert, of Stockton Springs; two sons, Donald Cadwell and his wife, Karen, of Wayne, and Timothy Cadwell and his wife, Sandra, of Auburn; two sisters, Virginia Willoughly of Westbrook, and Patricia Ridley of Litchfield; one brother, James Cadwell of Lewiston; five grandchildren, Brian Hanish and his wife, Celeste, of Hampden, Beth Luce and her husband, Dwane, of Kingfield, Jason Carver of Sidney, Megan Swanton and her husband, Gary, of Winthrop, and Sara Cadwell of Auburn; four great-grandchildren, Isaac Hanish, Hayden and Mia Luce and Jared Swanton; a good friend, John Fogg of Greene; several nieces and nephews; and many patrons and staff at Edwards Restaurant.