NORWAY – Albert Thomas Dignan of South Paris passed away on Jan. 16.

Al was born in Boston, Mass., on July 14, 1923, son of Charles Thomas Dignan and Carrie Gould Whitman Dignan White. His mother and brothers moved to Norway in 1931, where he graduated from Norway High School in 1942.

Drafted in January 1943, he served in the U.S Army in Europe. Shortly after being discharged, he became a member of Local 6, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, working as a pipe coverer, until his retirement after 40 years.

On June 15, 1947, he married Muriel Eltena Everett of Norway. They spent their first 10 years of marriage traveling the United States as he worked on a variety of construction jobs across the nation. In 1961, they purchased Paris Hardware in Market Square, living in and converting the building into apartments after the store closed.

They also ran two pipe insulation businesses, Insulation Inc. and Dignan Insulation.

He was involved with a variety of organizations including Masons Oxford Lodge 18, Royal Arch Masons Oxford Chapter 29, Oxford County Shrine Club, Lewiston Commandery No. 6 Knights Templar, First Universalist Church of South Paris, Cub Scout Pack 130, Norway-Paris Kiwanis Club, Twin Town Nature Club and the Paris Cape Historical Society.

He also served on the board of SAD 17, as a Paris selectman from 1977 to 1987, as a Paris Utility District trustee from 1992 to present, and on the Norway-Paris Cable-TV committee. He was also a licensed pilot.

He is survived by his best friend and wife of 61 years, Muriel; his sons and wives, Thomas and Paula Dignan of Norway and Michael and Tammy Dignan of South Paris; his five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; and his brother, Francis of Connecticut.

He was predeceased by his parents; his stepfather, Joseph White; and his brothers, Charles and Robert.