LEWISTON – Leo N. Whittingham, 85, of Lewiston, died on Saturday, Feb. 17, at d’Youville Pavilion, after a long struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

He was born in Lewiston, Oct. 17, 1921, the son of Edward and Roseanna Beaudoin Whittingham. He was a 1939 graduate of Lewiston High School and attended Bliss Business College, where he met Mildred Flaherty, his devoted wife of 63 years. They were married at St. Joseph’s Church on June 5, 1943.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army, 382nd Military Police Battalion. He served in the European Theater of Operations, beginning with pre-invasion operations in England, landing in Normandy in mid-June, 1944, through the liberation of Paris, and participating in the Battle of the Bulge.

After returning home from Europe and months at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Colorado, he continued his business education and graduated from the Auburn Maine School of Commerce. He worked in the office of Bates Manufacturing Co. for many years. He then joined the U.S. Postal Service and served as a postal clerk in the Lewiston Post Office. Later he became superintendent of postal operations and retired as assistant postmaster, in 1983.

He was a life long devoted member of St. Joseph’s Parish. In earlier years, he worked tirelessly on several parish fairs and fund raising projects, helping to raise money to build the new St. Joseph’s School. He often transported boys from Opportunity Farm to St. Joseph’s to attend Sunday Mass. He taught high school religious education and served on the Parish Council.

He helped in many other volunteer activities, including Sacristan for weekend Masses and organizer of the church ushers. He spearheaded a group of retired men to be altar servers for daily Masses and funerals. In his retirement years, he also enjoyed serving cookies and milk for the children’s religious education program. His volunteer efforts extended beyond the parish. He was a member of the St. Joseph’s College Guild. He was instrumental in raising funds to purchase a van to transport students at St. Joseph’s College. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 11.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred; three daughters and their husbands, Janice and Steve Taylor of Silver Spring, Md., Claire and Ray Sargent of Sanford and Jeannie and Tom Hopkins of Burke, Va.; his five grandchildren, Stephen Taylor, Paddy Taylor, and his wife, Kristy, R.J. Sargent, and his wife, Robin, Sarah (Hopkins) Phenow, and her husband, Tony and Patrick Hopkins; another granddaughter, Jeannie Anne Sargent, died in 1990; his nephew, Paul Henault; and two great-grandchildren, Tyler Phenow and Anna Sargent.

Leo’s family wishes to express their gratitude to the many friends and neighbors who have helped Leo during his long struggle with ALS. Most of all, they extend their sincere appreciation to Beacon Hospice and the loving and caring staff on 3 West at d’Youville Pavilion, all of whom truly demonstrated their commitment to the dignity of human life.