AUBURN – Roland “Choc” Decoteau, 89, formerly of 3 Ninth St., Auburn, died Jan. 5, at the Hospice House in Auburn.

Born in Rumford on May 28, 1919, he was the son of Arthur and Flavie Cormier Decoteau. He graduated from Stephens High School in 1937, from Farmington Teachers College in 1948, and received a master’s degree in 1951 from University of Maine in Orono.

He taught school in Farmington and Rumford. In 1956, he became elementary supervisor in the schools of Rumford.

In 1963, he took the superintendency in SAD 21 in Dixfield. After five years, he assumed the superintendency in School Union 29, in Mechanic Falls, Minot, and Poland. He served there for eight years.

In February 1941, he enlisted in the military and was assigned to Fort Preble in Portland Harbor Defenses. In May 1942, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps and in 1943 flew as a bombardier-navigator on B-24 Liberators, bombing Japanese-held islands in the central Pacific area.

He formerly belonged to the Knights of Columbus, Lions International, Maine Superintendents Association and was a trustee for the Rumford Public Library.

At the time of his death he was a member of the American Legion Post 153 of Auburn.

In August 1946, he married the former Jeanette Bosse of Skowhegan. They were married for 56 years until she passed away in April 2003.

They had four sons, Gerard of Lewiston, Maurice and wife, Louise, of Belfast, John and wife, Louise, of Auburn, and Paul and wife, Debra, of Leicester, N.C. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Michael of Portland, Dr. Matthew of Belfast, Paul and John of Bath, Jennifer of Auburn, Jessie and husband, David Pert, of Old Town, and John Gregory of Minot; three great-grandchildren, Tori, Isis and Aydyn.

He was predeceased by a sister, Ida; and two brothers, Leo and Oscar.