PHILLIPS — Loring “Dick” Richard Witham, 77, passed away at his home April 13, surrounded by family and friends, following a long and very courageous battle with cancer.

He was born Aug. 28, 1935, on the family farm in Dead River Plantation (now Flagstaff Lake), the only son of the late Lena Clark Chandler and Richard B. Witham. He was educated in the schools of Phillips and graduated from Phillips High School in 1953, where he was a member of the starting five on the 1953 state championship basketball team. Following his high school graduation, Dick attended and graduated from Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield and then attended the University of Southern Maine.

He married Jane Pinkham July 29, 1972, in Dixfield. Dick spent his life deeply involved in the logging industry which he loved. He was employed by B.L. Rowe as a truck driver and bantam cable crane operator, loading trucks. He started his logging career doing stump cutting and twitching wood with horses, then bulldozers, skidders and eventually, working with the mechanical operations of today (to which he would just shake his head).

During the 1970s, he was the co-owner of A & W Construction Co., building truck roads for the various paper companies and spent many a long night plowing and sanding many roads, driveways and the Carrabassett Airport. Later in life, he would often remark during a good storm, “At least I don’t have to go plow snow.”

Dick enjoyed spending time at the family camp in Weld, cookouts and sports, watching his beloved Cleveland Indians and high school basketball tournaments. He was always up for a good game of horse shoes. He was an avid deer hunter and put on many miles with a sandwich in his pocket roaming the mountains, hunting with his family and friends.

Later, as his disease prevented him from hiking, he enjoyed taking the old Jeep and his grandson, Wyatt, to look for a buck. The past couple of summers, Dick looked forward to spending time up to camp in Salem, taking in the view from the porch and telling stories. He was a Free Mason and a 54-year member of the Blue Mountain Lodge 67 AF & AM in Phillips. Dick was an honest, straight shooting man and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Rest in peace, Dad.

He is survived by his wife, Jane Pinkham Witham of Phillips; his daughter, LeeAnn Zulick of Phillips; three sons, Mark Witham and wife, Shari, of East Wilton, Matthew Witham of Phillips and Joe Haynes and wife, Christy, of Strong; his grandchildren, Diane Mitchell, Dana Wiswell, Jordan Witham, Wyatt Haynes, Bailey Haynes and James Haynes; his great-grandchildren, Ryan Mitchell, Logan Brackett and LeeAnn Newton; his sisters, Patricia Crocker and Connie Smith; his half-brother, Leslie Witham; his half-sisters, Lois, Sharron and Carole; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents; and his first wife, Dianne Rowe Witham.