Calvin B. Sewall

WILTON — Calvin B. (Brackett) Sewall, 96, of Wilton passed peacefully at daybreak on Thursday, March 2.

He was born Sept. 15, 1920, on the family’s Keep Road farm in Jay. He grew up on the farm with his parents, Herbert and Harriett (Brackett) Sewall, and his sister, Mary. His family raised prize beef cattle and apples of many varieties that were shipped around the world.

He was educated in a one-room schoolhouse in Jay and moved to Wilton Academy for the upper grades. He graduated from the academy in 1937. He then attended the University of Maine in Orono, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics, graduating in 1942.

During the summer of 1942, he worked at the Wilton Woolen Mill, making cloth and blankets for the U.S. Army. He also served as a member of the U.S. Ground Observer Corps, spending night after night watching the skies for enemy planes.

He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1942, serving stateside in Florida and Wisconsin as a radio operator and mailroom clerk. He separated from the Air Corps as a sergeant in 1946 and came home to Wilton, where his mother had moved, following his father’s death.

Using the GI Bill, he attended Columbia University Law School, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Laws degree and returned home to Wilton. He passed the Maine State Bar and set up practice in downtown Wilton, serving Wilton and greater Franklin County residents through his legal practice for more than 40 years, as well as serving as clerk of courts and as county attorney.

He served his local community through active membership in the local and statewide Masonic groups (Masons, Knights Templar, Kora Shrine) and the American Legion. Calvin was a founding member of the Wilton Lions Club and the Wilton Historical Society. He was also a member of the Franklin County Bar Association and was the attorney for the town of Wilton, as well as master of Wilton Masonic Lodge 156, commander of the Wilton American Legion Post and treasurer of the Wilton Historical Society.

He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Wilton, UCC for more than 75 years. He served in many capacities within the church, including moderator and church historian. He will be especially remembered as an usher and morning greeter.

Calvin was an avid tennis player and enjoyed long walks along the roads of Wilton. He would pick up bottles along the roadside to help keep his town clean. Calvin enjoyed his time working the Lions Club book tent during its annual sale and the annual pancake breakfast. He also loved to show people the history of Wilton through tours of the Wilton Historical Museum. He loved to read, especially books about history, and he studied politics. One of his favorite games was cribbage, which he played every chance he could get — right up to the end.

Calvin was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Mary (Sewall) Cole.

He is survived by his nephew, Thomas Cole (Gail) of Florida; his cousins, Susan Kaplan-Burgess and Andrea Kaplan, who were his loving caregivers these past three years; and many other cousins.

The family would like to thank his longtime doctor, Dr. Craig Lewis, and his staff for his wonderful care over the years; and would especially like to thank the staff at Beacon Hospice, Cindy, Megan, Paula and Joel for their tender, loving care these past seven months.

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