FARMINGTON — Fred E. Whittemore, 88, formerly of Dixfield, died Dec. 21, at the Sandy River Rehabilitation Center, where he had been a resident for 3 1/2 years.

He was born in South Portland, May 11, 1923, the son of Frederick and Evelyn Littlejohn Whittemore. He was educated in the Dixfield school system. On Sept. 3, 1940, at the age of 17, he joined the Army National Guard. He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division doing jumps in Italy, Sicily, North Africa and southern France. He was at the “Battle of the Bulge” at Bastogne on Christmas in 1944, where they were surrounded by the Germans.

He worked at Diamond Match in Peru and the Oxford Paper Mill in Rumford. He was an independent house painter retiring in 1988 from Logan Painters in Portland.

He was past master of Mt. Sugarloaf Grange in Dixfield, where he organized a youth Drill Team. They performed at many places throughout the state including performing for the Maine State Grange in Portland in 1959. He was a member of the Grange in Strong, Farmington and East Wilton. He was a member of Fraternity Lodge 6 Order of the IOOF in Portland, Beersheba Encampment in Portland, Swasey Torey A/L Post 100 in Dixfield and the VFW in Rumford. He was a member of Columbia Rebekahs in Portland and Merrill Rebekahs of Farmington where he was past patron.

On Oct. 12, 1996, he married Betty Robbins White of Strong. Fred was a kind-hearted and caring person.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of Freeman Township; one daughter, Gay Pictou of Lexington, Ky.; three sons, Terry Whittemore of Cape Cod, Mass., Cash Whittemore of Farmington, N.H., and Kevin Whittemore of Livermore Falls; a stepson, Robert Grover of Veazie; a stepdaughter, Noni Badershall of Freeman Township; several grandchildren, stepgrandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two nieces.

He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Ruth York; a brother, Francis Shaw; and several half brothers and half sisters.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at the Sandy River Rehabilitation Center for his excellent care during his stay there.