LEWISTON – Avard M. Dow Sr. of North Windham and Lewiston passed away on Friday, June 24, just a few days shy of his 89th birthday.

He was born in West Baldwin, July 9, 1916, and educated at local schools, The University of Maine at Orono, and did graduate studies at the New York Institute of Finance. He became manager of a WT Grant Store in New York City, where he met Katherine E. Gardner and was married Oct. 8, 1938.

In 1940, they moved to Maine where he was a welder at the South Portland Shipyard, and he opened an office for the brokerage firm of W.E. Hutton and Co. in Lewiston. He was chief of radio operations for the 88th Infantry Division, Italian Theater 1943 to 1944.

He became branch manager of W.E. Hutton in 1949. He was later branch manager for Thompson McKinnon Auchincloss & Kohlmeyer in 1974, and in 1975 was branch manager for Burgess & Leith, then Advest until 1992.

In 1992, he joined A.G. Edwards’ new office in Auburn. He retired in 2002 at the age of 86.

He enjoyed the outdoors and fishing from Alaska to South America but was happiest in the Allagash of Maine or on Sebago Lake. He was a registered master Maine guide. He also enjoyed playing tennis and won a gold medal in the National Senior Olympics. He was on the Board of Incorporators of Central Maine General Hospital, and Board of Incorporators of the Mechanics Savings Bank. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, with a 50-year award of the Kora Temple.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Katherine G. Dow; and a son, Avard M. Dow Jr.