NORWAY — Winthrop Adams Webster, 78, of Otisfield, passed away suddenly while shoveling snow on January 12.

Known to most people as Win, he was born in Concord, Mass. Feb. 2, 1932, to Viola and Thomas Webster of Bedford, Mass. Groundhog Day was his favorite holiday and he became a member of the National Order of Groundhogs. He graduated from Lexington high school and attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont. He soon realized he would be happier working with airplanes, so he left Bozeman to attend East Coast Aero-Tech Institute, where he graduated in 1953. He was drafted into the Army in March 1953. In November 1953 he married Jean Cole of Bedford, Mass. He finished his Army service in 1955 and began his mechanic career with United Airlines, where he worked for the next 37 years. In 1969 he was awarded the UAL Presidents Award for valor for extinguishing an aircraft fire.

He was a creative soul and enjoyed many hobbies, particularly making miniature vintage airplane models. He became interested in lapidary art in the late 1960s and created beautiful jewelry and decorative items from polished stone. He particularly enjoyed hunting for rocks in local streams and rivers and then creating useful items from these humble specimens. He had an extraordinary talent for envisioning beautiful designs buried within his stones.

He enjoyed public service, coaching children’s football and baseball, and history of the towns where he lived. He was a member of the Bell Hill Meetinghouse Association and served on the Otisfield Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. Prior to moving to Otisfield, he had lived in Berwick, where he served as Code Enforcement Officer, Zoning Board Official, Town Selectman, and Berwick Historical Society member. He was an active member of the East Otisfield Free Baptist Church and also a member of the Otisfield Historical Society.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jean Webster; and two children, Winthrop Adams Webster Jr. and Sara (Webster) Crocker. He leaves four grandchildren, Jake, Amanda, Mary and Katherine; and five great-grandchildren.www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com.