Buckfield – Gilbert Francis Jewell, 74, died March 26, ending his four-year battle with cancer, surrounded by family at his home in Buckfield.

He was born Oct. 3, 1932, in Lewiston, the youngest son of Bertrand and Gertrude (Starbird) Jewell of Buckfield. He graduated from Buckfield schools in 1951 and enlisted in the Air Force the following year. He served for four years during the Korean Conflict as an aircraft mechanic, retiring as a staff sergeant and extending his service through the Reserves.

He married Geraldine Warren, his devoted wife of 54 years, on Dec. 27, 1952. They raised five children in Jay while Gilbert worked for International Paper Co. He retired in 1988, but continued cutting wood, haying and making maple syrup on his 90-acre gentleman’s farm. He also pursued his interest in fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, camping, golfing and spending time with his family at their camp in Monmouth. He held membership at the Jay Baptist Church and most recently at the Faith Bible Chapel after moving to East Buckfield in 1997. He also belonged to the American Legion Post 58 of Buckfield.

His survivors include his wife, Geraldine Jewell; his sister Betty Piper of Jay; four daughters, Marie Allen and her husband, Peter, of Turner, Lorraine Dunn and her husband, Jim, of Lisbon Falls, Margaret (Peggy) Ganong and her husband, Brian, of Lisbon Falls, and Susan Jewell of Lisbon Falls; a son, Roger Jewell of Derry, N.H.; and 10 grandchildren, Jeffrey Ganong and his wife, Jewel, Rachel Ganong, Mary Ganong, Matthew Dunn, Katherine Dunn, Elisabeth Burhoe, Allison Burhoe, Justine Burhoe, Melissa Allen and Emily Allen.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Bertrand Durwood Jewell Jr. and Richard Jewell.