1915-2004

LEWISTON – Raoul A. Philippon, 88, of 15 Fortin Way, Lewiston, died at his home Friday evening after a short illness.

Born Feb. 26, 1915 in St. Evariste, Quebec, he was the son of Alexandre and Emilienne (Vachon) Philippon. He grew up in Lewiston and attended Lewiston High School and Bliss Business College. He enjoyed sports, and played hockey in the 1930s for the “Flying Frenchmen” and baseball for the Lewiston “Bears”. He began work at Bates Mfg. at the height of the Depression in 1931, and later also worked at the Hill and Androscoggin Mills. Mr. Philippon retired from Bates 51 years later in 1982 as superintendent of the winding and slashing departments.

On Sept. 21, 1940 he married Laurianne F. Fournier, who passed away Jan. 6, 2001. He was well known in the area as a singer, having performed with the St. Peter’s Church Choir, l’Orpheon, and the Grenadiers Quartet. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and the Holy Name Society, and he also served as a member of the Richelieu Club, l’Union St. Jean-Baptiste, and l’Institut Jacques Cartier.

He is survived by: his children, Paul and his wife, Marny, of Seaside, Ore, Irene Doucette of Dublin, Cal., Nancy Doucet and her husband, Leo, of Portsmouth, R.I., Roger and his wife, Celeste, of Lewiston; a brother, Lionel of Falls Church, Va.; six grandchildren, Michelle Ransden of Northborough, Mass., Muriel Doucette of Derry, N.H., Nancy Pineiro of North Andover, Mass., Anthony and Alex Doucet of Portsmouth, R.I., and Joseph Philippon of Lewiston; and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by two sisters, Lucille Labbe and Carmen Cyr, and four brothers, Raynald, Gerard, Bertrand, and Antonio.

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