AUBURN — Edwin Frederick White, 80, died peacefully Thursday, Dec. 9, at Hospice House, after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Worcester, Mass., June 2, 1930. Mr. White grew up on the campus of Mount Hermon School for Boys in Northfield, Mass., where he graduated in 1948. He earned his BS in forestry from the University of Massachusetts in 1954 and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, maintaining lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers.

After serving his country for two years in the Air Force, Mr. White and his wife made their home in Stratford, Conn., for 45 years, where he worked for Southern New England Telephone Co., retiring in 1985 after 30 years.

Mr. White was an active member of the Stratford United Methodist Church, where he also served as scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 72. After stepping down as scoutmaster, he continued to work with boys on individual merit badges and spent many years training adults in Boy Scout leadership through the Wood Badge program, ultimately earning the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to scouting.

In 1999, Mr. White and his wife moved into the log home they built on 16 acres of wooded land in Lovell. He loved nothing more than cultivating his orchard, felling trees for firewood and helping his neighbors, the Bedell Family, tend to their chickens. Mr. White was an active member of the Lovell United Church of Christ. He enjoyed singing in the choir and preparing meals for the congregation and visitors throughout the year. Mr. White was actively involved with dinner bell community supper in Fryeburg assisting in weekly food preparation and quarterly visits to the Good Shepherd Food Pantry in Lewiston for supplies.

Mr. White of Lovell, formerly of Stratford, Conn., is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Platt White and their four children, Mark A. White and his wife, Betty, of Freeland, Mich., Kevin A. White and his girlfriend, Tammy, of Shelton, Conn., Debra W. Delmonico and her husband, Dennis, of Fryeburg and Diane W. Mealo and her husband, Mark, of Apopka, Fla.; in addition to his children, Mr. White had nine grandchildren, David, Steven, Brian, Michael, Anthony, Sarah, Elizabeth, Robert and Olivia. “Skip,” as he was lovingly referred to by his parents, the late Lester P. and Alma G. White, is survived by his two brothers, Robert F. White and his wife, Joan, of Eastham, Mass., and William B. White and his wife, Marilyn, of Greenfield, Mass.; his brother-in-law, William Skoglund of Fryeburg; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. White was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Marjorie J. Skoglund.

Mr. White’s family would like to thank the caring professionals at Hospice House and Central Maine Medical Center, floor T3 and Life Flight for their support during his hospitalization.