AUBURN — Laurent Gagnon, 93, of 100 Campus Avenue, Lewiston died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday July 22, at Clover Manor Health Care Facility.

He was born in Augusta, on Jan. 18, 1917, the son of Joseph and Alida (Bilodeau) Gagnon and had been a resident of this community for most of his life.

In 1941, he married his soul mate Helene Boudreau. They were devoted to each other for the past 68 years.

He was happiest watching old classic movies, talking with his son and daughter on Skype and printing family pictures.

Although he was not formally educated, he received his certificate for the Signal Corps. He joined the service as an aviation cadet where he attended East Tennessee State Teachers College and where he taught as an Army Aircorps 2nd Lieutenant. He then completed the prescribed course of training for Flight Engineer on the B-29. This instilled in him the love of flying. He built his own airplane, the Cessna 140 and flew for many years out of Twitchells.

He had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting Acme Radio and Television Service in 1955. He was an avid two-way radio operator. He talked with HAMs all over the world with his call letters W1LPS.

Besides his wife, Helene Gagnon of Lewiston, he is survived by one son, Paul E. Gagnon of Florida; one daughter, Claire Braida and her husband, Garrett, of Utah; one granddaughter, Nicole Carollo and her husband, Matthew, of Utah; a special niece, Patricia Zebley and her husband, Michael, of Lewiston, who so lovingly took care of Laurent in his later years; and many other nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers and five sisters.

He will be remembered and cherished and forever be in our hearts.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.