TOGUS – Alcide “Buster” Gallant, 85, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Veterans’ Hospital. Formerly of Andover, he was a resident of the Upton Road, Andover.

He was born in Rumford, on Nov. 13, 1922, the son of Archie and Anna (LeBlanc) Gallant. He attended Rumford schools and during World War II served as a T/4 U.S. Army, Asiatic-Pacific Theater, where he received the Purple Heart and Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Star.

He worked at the Rumford Power Plant, Central Maine Power Co. as appliance repair man until 1974, when he was transferred to Mason Station and Maine Yankee as a maintenance supervisor in Wiscasset until retirement in 1984, with more than 40 years of service.

He was a communicant of the Parish of the Holy Savior St. Athanasius-St. John Church. His greatest passion was old time country music. He was an avid musician, always willing to learn to play a new instrument.

He loved his farmhouse in Andover. He was an avid gardener; he especially liked growing tomatoes. He had many hobbies in his time, flying planes, riding motorcycles, roller skating, working in a pit crew at Oxford Plains, playing in a local band in the 1960s and 1970s at the VFW and American Legion, leather work, making wallets for all his children and spouses, woodworking and cooking.

He was always willing to share his knowledge and stories with everyone, and would always slip in a joke or two to make you smile. He will be sadly missed by his children and families. We love you MORE Dad. He was married to the former Beatrice Cyr, who died in 1978.

Survivors include daughters, Theresa Bouchard and companion, Laurence Dewar, of Rumford, Anna Snyder and husband, Mark, of Andover and Michelle Ouellet and husband, Robert, of Errol, N.H.; sons, Samuel Gallant and wife, Margaret, of Feedings Hill, Mass., and William Gallant and wife, Veronica, of Greenville, N.H.; sister, Anna Ward of Wilton; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

He was predeceased by his wife, Beatrice; a stepson, Arthur Roundy in 2006; and a sister, Dorothy Comeau in 2006.