FARMINGTON – John T. Clemens Jr., 84, of Wilton, died unexpectedly, Sunday, April 27, at the Franklin Memorial Hospital.

He was born on April 1, 1924, in Rumford the son of John T. “Jack” and Ethel Mae (Vining) Clemens Sr. He attended schools in Weld and went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945.

On May 24, 1947, he married Lillian Quirrion in Wilton, where they made their home. He was previously married to Roaine Frost.

He was best known for his ownership of a local gas station on the Main Street of Wilton. His working career started there with Joe Boses when it was the local Esso station. Later it became Clemens & Martin Esso and at the time of his retirement was known lovingly as Johnny’s Exxon. It was in those 37 years of service to the community he came to know and be known, love and be loved by many people. Children looked forward to stopping at the station, too, for it was there they could pick up some penny candy on the way to and from school.

Johnny was a charter member of the Wilton Lions Club and was recently presented with his 50-year membership pin. He was very active in the Lions over the years and will always be remembered for being in charge of cooking the lobster and clams at the Lions annual picnic. He was a member of the local American Legion and former member of the Wilton Woodland Wanderers Snowmobile Club.

He loved being in the out-of-doors, whether it bee-keeping, hunting, fishing, tracking rabbits with his beagles or spending time at his camp on Cherry Hill in Perkins Township. One could also not think of him without recalling his love of the Boston Red Sox.

He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Lillian of Wilton; children, Harland Clemens and his wife, Nancy, of Chesterville, Hazel Flagg and her husband, Lincoln, of Wilton, John Maynard and his wife, Shirley, of East Hampstead, N.H., Dale R. Clemens and his wife, Sally, of Wilton and Kathy Goulette and her husband, Dave, of Wilton; brothers, Alfred Clemens of Carthage, James Clemens of Old Orchard Beach, Gordon Clemens of Old Orchard Beach and Cecil Clemens of Togus; sisters, Ruth Toothaker of Weld, Ruby Gilman of Farmington, Shirley Daoust of Durham, Nellie Robinson of Falmouth, Edna Hutchinson of Peru and Phyllis Gerrier of Industry; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by siblings, Richard Clemens, Vernal “Spike” Clemens and Bernice Roberts; and one great-grandson, Dwight Allen.