LEWISTON – The Honorable John Linwood Batherson, 85, of Rumford, passed on Thursday, Dec. 27, at the Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston, with his family by his side.

A devoted husband, father, friend and attorney and Maine District Court Judge for many years, he will be missed dearly by all those who knew him. He was born on Sept. 24, 1922, in Rumford. His parents were Helen Shea, of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and William Batherson, of Nova Scotia, Canada. His parents moved to Rumford in 1918. Judge Batherson attended St. Athanasius Grammar School and Stephens High School, graduating in 1941. He was a member of the National Honor Society. While attending Rumford schools, he played baseball, basketball and tennis. He also worked as a paperboy delivering newspapers around town.

Judge Batherson volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 during World War II. He served with the 15th Air Force in the European Theater of Operations at Foggia Air Base, Italy, where he was a radio operator and gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. He flew 21 combat missions, including several missions over Berlin, Germany. On one such mission, his bomber was shot down and crash landed in Yugoslavia. He and his crew evaded capture, and were sheltered from German troops by local partisans until they were returned safely to Italy.

He was awarded numerous decorations, including the American Campaign Medal, the Air Medal with Cluster, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Silver Service Star, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He left the service in 1945, at the rank of technical Sgt. Judge Batherson was recognized for combat service in five campaigns: the North Apennines, the Po Valley, the Ardennes-Alsace, the Rhineland and Central Europe.

After the war, Judge Batherson attended the University of Maine, Boston College and the University of Maine School of Law, where he received his law degree in 1950.

He married Alma T. (MacDougall) Batherson in August of that same year. He practiced law in Rumford and was active with many local organizations, including service as commander of the American Legion, and as a leader of the Boy Scouts. He was also very active in politics, and became chairman of the State of Maine Democratic Committee campaigning for Edmund Muskie, who was elected Governor. In 1958, then Governor Muskie appointed him as a Municipal Court Judge. In 1966, he became a Maine District Court Judge. He served as a judge in courts throughout the State of Maine for 36 years until 1994, when he retired at the age of 72.

Judge Batherson was recognized by both his peers and those who appeared before him for his fairness, compassion and judicial temperament. He earned the reputation among attorneys who practiced law in his court as “Father John.” He was also instrumental in forming a local group home for troubled youths as an alternative to incarceration, providing a stabile environment and chance for a better life. This was one of his most personally rewarding accomplishments in his career as a judge. There are now several such homes throughout the state of Maine.

Judge Batherson’s hobbies over the years included golf and attending the various recreational and school events of his four children. He had a great love for airplanes, and was an avid private pilot, teaching his children about airplanes and how to fly.

He is survived by his wife and friend of 57 years, Alma T. (MacDougall) Batherson; his children, Andrea Lynn Batherson of York, Robert J. Batherson of Mandeville, La., William E. Batherson of Westbrook, John G. Batherson of Washington D.C. and their families; grandchildren, Hayley, Lauren, Will and Riley; and a brother, Richard Batherson of Sacramento, Calif.