NEW GLOUCESTER – Dean E. Croxford, 65, died May 18, at his home in New Gloucester, with his wife by his side, after a long illness.

He was born on April 19, 1943, in Lewiston, the son of Wilbur and Emily Libby Croxford. He began his education in a one-room schoolhouse in Poland. In 1962, he graduated from Lewiston High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967. A sergeant in the 82nd Airborne, he did long-range reconnaissance patrols with the Green Berets in Vietnam.

In 1968, he married Althea Sedgley of Lewiston. He worked for Johns Manville in Lewiston for 29 years. While there, his design for building construction flashing was patented. In 1998, he retired to spend more time with the hobbies he and Althea enjoyed.

He loved the outdoors, especially farming with his grandfather, trail riding, hunting, fishing, sport shooting and dog training. He was a skilled marksman and a licensed pilot. He and Althea enjoyed training their hunting dog, Amy with members of NAVHDA.

He is survived by Althea, his loving wife and caregiver; his mother, Emily Croxford of Poland; his sister, Leola and her husband, Jim Hall; nephews, Scott Hall and wife, Pat, and children, Gregory and Kathryn and Steve Hall and Cheryl and children, Sarah and Jordan, all of Poland; his sister-in-law, Elaine Williams of Gray; niece, Melinda and her husband, Will Reno, and their son, Justin of Winchester, Mass.; nephew, Derrick Williams of La Jolla, Calif.; and many other caring family and friends.

He was predeceased by his father, Wilbur Croxford.

The family would like to thank all of those who supported Dean during his illness. They extend a special thank you to Dr. Matthew Dugan and the staff at ME Center for Cancer Medicine in Scarborough and Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice.