RUMFORD — Richard R. “Dick” Stearns, 82, died Wednesday, June 14, at Rumford Hospital. He was a resident of East Bethel Road in Rumford.
Born in Rumford Corner on May 28, 1935, he was a son of Roland and Thelma (Bessy) Stearns. Dick graduated from Stephens High School in Rumford with the Class of 1955. He worked as a millwright and roll grinder for Oxford Paper Co. and Boise Cascade paper mill in Rumford.
Dick was active in many civic organizations including Blazing Star Lodge No. 30 AF & AM, Royal Arch Masons, Oxford County Shrine Club, Kora Temple Shrine Club, president of the Bethel Snow Twisters Snowmobile Club, president of the Maine Beagle Association, president of the Androscoggin Valley Beagle Club, volunteer for the Rumford Point Fire Department, coach and volunteer for Rumford Point CAA and was an active member of the Rumford Corner VIS.
Dick was an avid hunter, fly-fisherman and beagle and rabbit hunter, and enjoyed his big garden and canning. In his younger years, he was involved in stock car racing at Oxford Plans Speedway. He was an avid Red Sox fan, enjoyed family gatherings and always found time to spend with his grandchildren and fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling to Alaska a few years ago.
Dick was married in Rumford Corner on Sept. 6, 1956, to Dorothy Foster who died in Rumford on May 1, 2007, and then two old fools got married on April Fool’s Day in 2009 when he married Elizabeth “Betty” Berry Swan in Rumford.
He was commander-in-chief of Camp “Big Dipper.”
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Stearns of Rumford Corner; a son, Daniel Stearns and wife, Mary, of Rumford Point; a daughter, Linda Westleigh and her husband, Richard, of Rumford Corner; grandchildren, Cory Stearns and wife, Kaitlin, Erin Crockett and husband, Ray, Adam Stearns and companion, Breana Roberts, Eric Westleigh and wife, Brittany, Shanna Westleigh and companion, Dan Willis; great-grandchildren, Hailey, Jack, Chase, Hattie, Auslie and Jakob; stepson, Charles Swan and wife, Jessica, of Dixfield; stepdaughters, Sandra Buchanan and husband, Fred, of Dixfield, Brenda Gammon and her husband, David, of Peru, Linda Tyler and her husband, David, of Churchville, Md., Donna Tiner and husband, John, of Augusta, Jennifer Whittemore and husband, Dana Jr., and Debra Alonso and husband, Jaime, of Dayton; sister, Sandra Clement and husband, Mike, of Andover; and several special nieces, nephews and cousins. He was Bee Paw to many stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren.
He was predeceased by a sister, Janice Hill; and a brother, Ben Monk.
Friends and relatives are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.
Richard R. Stearns
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