Roland J. Begin Sr.
1931 – 2009

AUGUSTA — Roland J. Begin Sr., 78, of Winslow, passed away peacefully Thursday, Aug. 13, with his daughter, Lisa, at his side, at the Maine Veterans’ Home after a long illness. In his final hours, he was surrounded by most of his surviving family.

He was born in Waterville, July 11, 1931, the son of Napoleon and Josephine (Roy) Begin. He attended Waterville schools and after dropping out of high school to take of care of his family, was able to later get his GED alongside his wife of 46 years, Theresa. He was a corporal paratrooper in the U.S. Army from August 1948 to May 1952, serving in Korea until he was shot in the knee during a drop. He was honorably discharged on May 2, 1952 receiving a Purple Heart as well as several other medals. He was an active member of the Winslow VFW and volunteered many years helping other veterans in the hospital or nursing home.

He worked various jobs throughout his career while caring for his large family. Most notably was being a barber; working alongside his wife, also a barber, for 40 years in their private business, Begin’s Barber Shop. Other jobs included bus driver for the town of Winslow, police officer for Winslow and Waterville, security guard at Keyes Fibre (where he retired), as well as many other odd jobs. He was a communicant at St. John the Baptist Church in Winslow, where he was very active.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially the babies! He loved storytelling, mowing his lawn and playing with various equipment. He was well-known for his lack of carpentry and mechanical skills, but always had fun. He loved going to Bolley’s and Barnie’s for their famous hot dogs and most especially Big G’s, which he was able to enjoy one last time on Father’s Day with most of his family.

On Jan. 27, 2001, he married Viola (Elliott York) Begin, who very patiently and lovingly stood by his side until the end.

He is survived by his wife, Viola; his sisters, Isabelle (Begin) Pelotte and Muriel (Begin) Rancourt and her husband, Karl; his children, Linda (Begin) Titus and her husband, Lauchlin, Roland Jr., “Sonny” Begin and his wife, Rose, Paul Begin and his wife, Kathie, Pamela (Begin) Beaulé and her husband, Raymond, Lisa (Begin) Simko and her companion, Bill Carey, Janet (Begin) Mosher, Casey Begin and his wife, Susie and Bill Begin and his wife, Roula; his grandchildren, Morgan Titus, ND, Miah Titus and his wife, Jayme, Jeoffrey Begin and his wife, Alissa, Patty Begin and her fiancé, Geoff Kinnicutt, Kelly Gardner and her husband, Mike, Keith Desmond and his wife, Courtney, Kimberly Garneau and her husband, Aaron, Ryan Beaulé, Brandon and Courtney Brackett, Ashley Simko, Lucas Mosher, Alysha, Krysta, Jessyca and Jocelyn Begin, Markus Begin and Chloe Begin; his great-granddaughter, Evelyn; and his great-grandchild still in the oven, “Sprout;” his sisters-in-law, Yvette Poulin and her husband, Doug, Lucille Roy and Julie Akins and her companion, Bernie Bouchard; and his stepchildren, Rita, Richard and Robert York and their families.

He was predeceased by his wife, Theresa (Lachance) Begin, who passed
away in a car accident Aug. 7, 1998; his
parents, Napoleon and Josephine; and his siblings, Dorilasse Begin, Emmy
(Begin) Benegas and her husband, Joseph, Alfredine (Begin) Gagnon and
her husband, Louis, Juliette (Begin) Taylor and her husband, Bernard,
Norma (Begin) Poulin and her husband, Joe, Theresa (Begin) York and her
husband, Virgil, Perley Begin, Ronald Begin and Raymond Begin.

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