BRIDGTON — Wendell Arthur Strout Sr., 68, of Casco, died Thursday, Oct. 6, at Bridgton Hospital.

Wendell was born on Feb. 24, 1943, in Lewiston, the son of the late Weston Strout and Myrtle Daly Strout Mailman. He was raised on the old family farmstead on College Road in Greene. His father was killed in World War II when Wendell was only 2 years old. He was brought up by his mother and his late stepfather, Warren Mailman.

He attended Greene schools and graduated from Edward Little High School in the Class of 1961. He attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated from the two-year agriculture course in 1963.

He married Theresa Roy of Auburn, the daughter of the late Victor and Janice Roy. They were married for 30 years and lived on the College Road in Greene. They raised three children, Wendell Jr., Cynthia and Scott. Theresa died in June 1993.

Wendell worked for Wonder Bread and operated his own milk delivery business, Strout’s Dairy, for nine years. In 1983 he went to work for Locust Farm/HP Hood Dairy until his retirement in 2008 from HP Hood.

He was a member of the old Greene Men’s Club and served as coach, athletic director and 15 years as the treasurer. For years he raised a large garden and cut his own firewood. He and his son Scott were in the sports card business, selling cards at shows and, for a short time, had a shop on Lisbon Street in Lewiston.

In 1996, Wendell moved to Higgins Beach, Scarborough, with his fiancee, Valerie Hodsdon Knight. They were married in 2009.

In 1994, he started hiking and mountain climbing and climbed all 48 4,000-foot peaks in New Hampshire and 150 other peaks, including the Knife Edge in Baxter State Park. He enjoyed boogie boarding at Higgins Beach, kayaking and white-water rafting with his wife Valerie.

For 20 years, Wendell was an ASA and Federation softball umpire. He was an avid fan of the Red Sox and saw his dream come true when they won the World Series in 2004.

With his interest in history and genealogy, he researched many branches of his family back to the pilgrims. He was a member of the Portland Genealogical Society. He had a passion for the Civil War and read many books on the subject.

In 2009, Wendell and Valerie moved to Thompson Lake in Casco.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie; son Wendell Jr. and his wife, Debbie, daughter Cynthia and her husband, Mike MacDonald and son Scott Strout, all of Greene; stepdaughter Tandra Knight and husband, Ty O’Hair, stepdaughter Erin Goetzger and husband Buddy, and stepson Philip Knight, all of Maryland; 10 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and one stepbrother, Rodney Mailman of Kansas.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Strout family by visiting their guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.