LEWISTON — George B. Wing Sr., 77, of New Gloucester, passed away to be with his wife on April 26, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, surrounded by loving family members.

He was born in East Sumner, Dec. 31, 1932, to Alton Wing Sr. and Georgia (Daniels) Merrill. His family moved to New Gloucester when he was eight. He often spoke of working on the family farm as a young man.

Other early jobs included Eastern Fire Protection and Melansons Lumber Mill. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at 19, proudly serving this country as an aircraft mechanic in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He also did a tour of duty in Goosebay Labrador.

Other achievements that made him proud was graduating from the N.C.O. Academy in California, as well as writing a manual about nondestructive inspection of metals for the Air force. He also received bachelor of arts degree in college while stationed at Chanute A.F.B. in Rantoul, Ill.

In 1954, he married the love of his life, Thelma Evelyn Estes of New Gloucester. In 1972, upon retirement from the services, he taught conservation and shop at the former Pineland Facility. In that same year, he pioneered the cattle hybrid cross, “ Beefalo” in the state of Maine. A passion to him, he continued to raise and loved to converse about beefalo until the time of his death.

In 1977, he and his family purchased Sturgis Market in Upper Gloucester, which he ran for 31½ years. He sold his “Wings Tank and Tummy Store” in 2008. He was a friend and father to many that knew and worked for him at his store. He truly missed the people after his second retirement. His big smiles were numerous, always showing a loving twinkle in his eyes. Credit to customers never seemed to be a problem at his “ Mom and Pop” store. He was genuinely was one of the “Good Guys.” He was a life member of the American Legion Post 86 and the American Beefalo Association.

He is survived by his mother, Georgia Merrill of Greene; brothers, Al, Wallace and Kenneth; sisters, Margaret, Florence, Junie and Shirley; many nieces and nephews; children, George Jr., Kevin, Brett, Diana Wing and Cindy Randall and “adopted son,” Harold Wheeler; he was blessed with 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife, Thelma in 1993; his father, Alton Sr.; brothers, Alton Jr., Forrest, Edward and Richard; as well as a sister, Ellen.


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