SOUTH PARIS – Dr. Harry L. Harper, 99, of South Paris, died late Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 5, 2018 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough with his family by his side.

He was born on May 26, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pa., the son of Matthew and Florence (Lyster) Harper. He graduated from Frankfurt High School in 1937 and went on to attend Penn State, graduating pre-med in 1941.

With the advent of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of the Medical Corps. In time, he attended Officer Candidate School and was assigned to the 1,000-bed Army hospital in Taunton, England, as a bacteriologist. Following the war, he graduated with a Master of Arts degree from Temple University. At that time, he married Evelyn A. Small, RN, of Gardiner, Maine, on Oct. 17, 1945. She, too, had served in the U.S. Army in Taunton, England. He entered Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in the fall of 1946 and graduated in 1950. They made their home in Maine as he interned at Central Maine General Hospital (now Central Maine Medical Center) from 1950-1951. He then opened his own practice in South Paris in 1951. He was one of the eight founding physicians of Stephens Memorial Hospital, where he remained on staff until his retirement at age 77. He served as the school physician for many schools in the area. Dr. Harper lovingly cared for thousands in the Oxford Hills area.

He was the first general practice physician to serve as president of the Maine Heart Association. He was a member of countless organizations, and was a communicant of Christ Episcopal Church in Norway. Outside of his work, he enjoyed writing books and jazz music.

Dr. Harper is survived by his two children, John A. Harper of Wiscasset and Jane E. Frechette and her husband, Rick of Norway; grandchildren, Mellissa Harper, Matthew Harper, Carri Frechette, Kayla Hoke and her husband, Jared, Laura Harper-Lake and her husband, Geoff, Joanna Fadden and her husband, Georgie; great grandchildren, Danielle Harper, Harper Logan McConnell, Alaric Hoke, Rylen Hoke, and Joseph Fadden; and great great granddaughter Rory Lowen. He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn, on June 27, 2015; a son, Joseph H. Harper on March 13, 1996; his parents, and sisters, Florence Banks and Evelyn Brown.

His family would like to thank Charlotte Varney for her care while he was at home, as well as the staff at the Maine Veterans Home, especially “my girl, Jessica,” Stephens Memorial Hospital, Maine Medical Center, and the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 at the Christ Episcopal Church, 35 Paris St., Norway.  Private family interment will take place at a later date at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta.

Arrangements are in the care of the Chandler Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. Condolences and tributes may be shared with Dr. Harper’s family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Dr. Harper’s memory to Christ Episcopal Church, Stephens Memorial Hospital, or a charity of one’s choice.

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