AUBURN – Wesley I. Johnson, 83, a resident of Main Street, Monmouth, died at Hospice House, Wednesday, Aug. 13.

He was born Oct. 7, 1924, in Monmouth, the son of Philip F. and Mary Robertson Johnson. Wes attended Monmouth schools and graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1943, graduating third in his class.

After graduation, he entered the U.S. Army and served in the MP’s in France and U.S., he was discharged in 1946. In 1946, he married Bertha Leavitt, they had been married 62 years. He went to work in the advertising department at the Lewiston Sun Journal; retiring in 1987. He still continued to work as a correspondent and part-time columnist for the Sun Journal after retirement.

He played town team baseball for many years, serving as business manager and playing manager. He was an avid golfer; he played many courses in Maine, plus numerous courses in Canada, Florida, and other parts of the U.S. He was very active in Masons; he was a member of Monmouth Lodge 110 since 1951; served as master in 1959, treasurer for 39 years, master again in 2000; district deputy from 1985 to 1987; and served on other committees in Grand Lodge.

He was a trustee of Monmouth Academy for many years, trustee of Monmouth Fair Association, director of Monmouth Water Association, director of Monmouth Federal Credit Union, degree master of Monmouth Grange, member of Monmouth Historical Society and member of the Golden Years Club, having served as its president.

He and Bertha were avid travelers, having visited every one of the 50 states and most of Canada, they also traveled to Denmark.

He is survived by his wife, Bertha of Monmouth; a daughter, Penelope (Penny) Bornstein Johnson, head librarian at Worcester, Mass., library and her husband, Milton Bornstein, of West Boylston, Mass.; a son, Gregory (Greg) Johnson, he manages a print shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., and his wife, Harriet Goldberg, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; five nieces; and his dog, TaiLin.

He was predeceased by his brother, Robert Johnson.