FARMINGTON – Benjamin Wade Littlefield, 83, born May 8, 1924, died on Jan. 7.

He was the second child and only son of Otis B. and Ethel B. Littlefield. As an infant, he was rescued by his father from a house fire at his lifelong home in Farmington.

He attended public schools in Farmington and graduated from Farmington High School with the class of 1942. He remained active with the Farmington area alumni association all these years, and recently attended the 65th reunion of his high school class.

As a member of America’s greatest generation, he was drafted right out of high school to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. After the conclusion of the World War II, he studied at Bliss Business College and went on to graduate, with honors, from the University of Maine, Orono, class of 1951. He specialized in education, business education and remedial reading education for adults.

Ben raised a family with his first wife, Marjorie Gladys White, whom he married on Dec. 23, 1950. They taught high school together in Phillips. Marjorie predeceased him in 1979. Following his teaching career, he was hired by the owner of Maine Consolidated Power Co.

He was employed in the retail and revenue section and as a buyer for the electrical appliance and lighting division.

After Maine Consolidated was absorbed by Central Maine Power Co., he was employed in the electric heating division in the Waterville office.

He was a heating advisor until his retirement at age 62. He met and married Marita E. Smith on Oct. 20, 1981, and embarked on an exciting and enthusiastic and adventurous senior life. He was able to divide his time between seasonal living in Maine and traveling and living in the far east and Europe. He and Marita spent 18 winters in Spain.

Their globetrotting style was, no doubt, a factor in his longevity.

He was known in his community and family as a noble, spirited and humble man. He possessed an extraordinary sense of humor that was characterized by his wry, dry and subtle wit.

His kindness and sensitivity to the brotherhood of man is his legacy. He is and will beloved and sadly missed by his entire family and all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Marita; his daughter, Mamta H. Gupta and husband Alok, their children, Anjali and Jagan; his son, Benjamin T. Littlefield and his son, Chadbourne; his step-son, Charles W. Smith, and wife, Sue-Ellen, their children, Melissa, Jasmine, Jordan, Michael and Nathaniel; great-grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews an extended family indeed!

He was predeceased by his sister, Mildred.