ROCKPORT — Richard E. “Dick” Whiting, 79, of St. George and Indian River Shores, Fla., died peacefully Friday evening at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

The son of Arthur Edward Whiting and Sadie Harriet Whiting (nee Jacobs), he was born on July 9, 1931, in Lewiston and raised in the Auburn area.

He graduated from Edward Little High School in 1949 and Cushing Academy in 1950, where he met his future wife, Elaine Barbara “Lanny” Bland. Following an extended courtship, the couple was married on Aug. 29, 1953. Dick graduated from Colby College in 1954. He and Elaine had six children in all, Christopher, (Doylestown, Ohio), Thomas (Rockland), Jennifer (deceased at birth), Susan (Cumberland Center), Lee (Park City, Utah) and Daniel (Cumberland Center).

Dick graduated from Boston University Law School in 1958 and commenced law practice in Rumford, where he practiced general law and was counsel to and a lobbyist for the paper industry and the Maine Bar Association. He also served as president of Oxford County Bar Association.

A dedicated public servant, he was elected and served as probate judge in Oxford County from 1973 through 1996. During his time on the bench, he served as president of the Maine Probate Judges Assembly and served on a revision commission recommending reforms, which later were adopted as legislation and passed by the Maine Legislature, effectively modernizing Maine probate code and procedure.

Upon his retirement from the court in 1997, he received a special recognition for his distinguished service from the Probate Judges Assembly and the Maine State Legislature. In 2009, upon his 50th anniversary as a member of the bar, he was presented with the honor of Life Member from the Maine State Bar Association.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed the company of good friends in the outdoors, fishing, hunting, skiing, organic gardening and mountain climbing. He was an avid reader, had a keen interest in current events, adventure and history authors and, along with Elaine, enjoyed collecting art and spending their summers enjoying his native Maine and wintering in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas and the Vero Beach area, Florida.

He is survived by his wife; his children; and 13 grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Adelbert and Raymond Whiting; and sisters, Alice Burdin and Elinor Hill.

For those wishing to view or leave comments in his memory, an online tribute “Book of Memories” Web page has been set up and can be found at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.