1931 – 2016

SOUTH PARIS — Wardsworth “Baldy” McLeod, 84, of Dixfield passed away Wednesday, April 27, at the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris.

He was born at home in Dixfield on July 17, 1931, the son of Chesley Roy McLeod and Margaret (Eastman) McLeod.

He began working various jobs at the age of 11 to help support his family. He left school in ninth grade in order to continue working and in 2005 was given an honorary diploma by Dirigo High School. At age 15, he was “senior man” at Norwalk Shoe in Norridgewock, having never shown his birth certificate to the boss. At age 16, he transferred to the North Jay shoe factory, working for the Alfond brothers. At the age of 18, he began driving a pulp and logging truck for Ray Holt.

At age 19, he joined the U.S. Army National Guard for six years but was discharged with nine months left on his enlistment for missing too many meetings because of working day and night driving truck. Two weeks later, he received his draft notice. He served in the U.S. Army as a gas pipeline outfitter and transported troops during the Korean conflict, earning his honorable discharge on Nov. 27, 1957. He was then employed for 39 years as a millwright, working the last 20 of those years as a first-class millwright for Boise Cascade before retiring in 1995.

He was a hardworking family man who built three homes over the years, having learned to do this by volunteering to work on other building projects. He enjoyed woodworking, camping trips to Dummer’s Beach in Weld and Edgewater Colony in Harpswell, strumming the guitar and playing cards (as long as he could win).

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jeanette (Fish) McLeod of Dixfield; his son, Stephen and wife, Lynn, of Sanford; his son, Bruce of South Carthage; his son, Jeff and wife, Wanda, of Dixfield; his “favorite daughter,” Gayle of North Jay; his sister, Reta Harvell of Connecticut; and his 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Leslie and Malcolm McLeod; his sisters, Elethea Harvell, Clara Hiscock and Barbara Descy; and his son-in-law, Charles Therrien.

Friends and relatives are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.