RUMFORD – Stanwood Harlow Horne, 87, of Dixfield, died Sunday, April 20, at the Rumford Community Hospital.

He was born March 6, 1921, the son of Maurice and Anna (Rosella) Alviro, one of 10 siblings and the youngest of four brothers. He grew up on Leavitt Street in Mexico, and attended schools in Dixfield and Mexico, graduating from Mexico High School. After high school, he briefly drove truck for Foggs before enlisting in the Army. He served in World War II, and was a member of the First Division Infantry, traveling all over Europe and Africa.

Upon his return, Stan played baseball with the Auburn Asas (a semi-pro team in Auburn) and the Dixfield Dixies (Timber League). He was the pitcher for the Dixies and his brother, Harold, was the catcher. They were the dynamic duo and dominated their game…he with his pitching and Harold with his putouts and batting. Later in life, he was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. He would go on to umpire baseball and referee field hockey.

He married his beloved wife, Kathlyn Elaine Welch in 1945, with Jean and Richard Luce in attendance. Together, they raised their three children and lived in Auburn, Dixfield and Carthage before buying their home on Weld Street in the early 1950s. They spent their summers at Webb Lake in Weld.

He was a maintenance foreman at Boise Cascade. He retired in 1982 after 35 years of service. He and Kate traveled all over the country and eventually bought a retirement home in Silver Springs, Fla.

He was a member of the Masons, the Dixfield Park Commission and the VFW, where he could often be found having coffee and good conversation with his buddies. He walked two miles a day at age 76, and drove his 19-year-old pickup truck until he was 86-years-old.

He loved life, his friends, and his familiy in particular. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t sing, dance, crack a joke or tell a story. He was a gentle soul and a gentleman who spoke kindly of everyone. He loved to fish, play Pinochle with John and Alice, read Western novels, have family gatherings, go for rides and out to eat, and spend time playing with his grandchildren.

He is survived by two daughters, Sharon Moore of Centersville, Ga., and Judy and Tom Powell of Dixfield; a son, Lauren Allen and Theresa of Westbrook; three sisters, Helen Mitchell of Rumford, Ruby Jordan and husband, Webster, of Jay and Jean Haynes of Torrington, Conn.; grandchildren, Danielle Richards and husband, Jeff, Jamey Moore and wife, Stephanie, Tracy Moore and husband, Ami Moore, and Ron, Jeff Allen, Anna Price and husband, Ed, Charlie Walsh and Tammy Brown and husband, Mark; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Kathlyn Elaine Welch Horne; brothers, Harold, Stanley and Homer; and sisters, Arlene, Isa, Rosamond and Mary.