LEWISTON — Frank S. Bennett Jr., 81, of Main Street, Lisbon Falls, died peacefully on April 2, after a short but courageous battle with a rare form of leukemia.

He was born May 31, 1930, in Portland, the only child of the late Frank S. Bennett Sr. and Evelyn Whitney Bennett. He was raised in Bridgton and graduated from Bridgton Academy.

At a young age, he developed a keen appreciation for business from his father and the value of excellent service from his mother while working in the family gas station. A successful entrepreneur as a young man, he ventured in various businesses, including lobstering and harvesting and selling Christmas trees before establishing in 1954 Maine Drywall Co., operating out of Topsham.

Using the lessons he learned from his parents, his business quickly developed a reputation for the finest quality of workmanship and fair pricing which lead to decades of long standing relationship with a number of local contractors and very often some more famous customers such as Nelson Rockefeller. Those lessons and values were instilled in all of his six sons, each spending time at a young age with their father learning the business. In 2002, he officially turned over the day to day operations of the business to two of his sons and incorporated the business as Maine Drywall Consultants, but still participated daily in the business.

An avid outdoorsman, he was most at peace with a fishing pole in his hand and any of the members of his family in tow as he revealed one of any number of his secret fishing holes throughout the state.

Over the years, he developed special bonds with his many family pets. He was a life time member of the Slovak Catholic Association of Lisbon Falls.

He is survived by six sons, Frank S. Bennett III and wife, Connie, of Topsham, Dennis A. Bennett and wife, Cheryl, of Bowdoin, Stephen J. Bennett of Lewiston, James A. Bennett and wife, Debra, of Presque Isle, Joseph P. Bennett of Lisbon Falls and Jonathan M. Bennett of Lisbon; granddaughters, Stephanie Bennett of Topsham, Bethany Bennett of Dresden and Amanda Bennett of Presque Isle; grandsons, Chris Bennett of Topsham, Jason Bennett of Sabattus, Mitchell Bennett of Presque Isle and Alex Bennett of Lisbon; five great-grand children; he also leaves behind a lifelong friend and recent companion, Pauline Ross of Bowdoin.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Florence Simmons Sieg of Topsham; and his wife of 42 years, Ethel ‘Ginger’ Boynton Bennett of Lisbon Falls.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Bennett family by visiting their guestbook at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com.