MILLINOCKET -- Elmer G. Knowlton, 77, died peacefully Tuesday, April 3, 2007, surrounded by family at Millinocket Regional Hospital, after a courageous battle with cancer. Elmer was born June 10, 1929, in Pittsfield, the son of Mahlon and Neva (Frost) Knowlton.
He graduated from Harmony High School, Class of 1947. He married his high school sweetheart, Electa Irene Sinclair, in 1950. At 21, he built his first home in Dexter, while working as a carpenter for Fay-Scott Machine Co. His love of the outdoors led him to the Maine Warden Service, where he served the Ripogenus Dam - Millinocket area from 1955 to 1975. He retired after a distinguished career, receiving the first Maine Warden Medal of Valor for saving a life on the West Branch of the Penobscot. He would rescue many others from the waters of the Katahdin Region, before he retired in 1975. Elmer was an exceptional marksman, winning the Maine Warden/State Trooper pistol competition two years in a row. He was a clever and talented carpenter, building several homes and cabins in the region.
He was also a skilled canoe maker, turning out many beautiful crafts. After retiring as a warden, he and his wife, Elect, ran the Harrington Lake Camps for years for Great Northern Paper. Later, he worked the West Branch Fish Survey for Great Northern Paper, before enjoying full retirement. He will be remembered as a mesmerizing story-teller; drawing on an endless number of warden stories to entertain. Elmer also had a keen wit and unique sense of humor, which he kept until the end. He was a dedicated family man, loving and supportive to both wife and sons.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Electa; his three sons: Daryl and his wife, Marcy, Douglass and his wife, Judy, and Donn and his wife, Maria, all of Millinocket; his siblings, Stanley Knowlton and his wife, Muriel, of Harmony, Winona Williams and her husband, Robert, of Millinocket, Kaye Bussell of Skowhegan, Raye McGinley and her husband, Ron, of Harmony, and Gail McKenney and her husband, Carl, of Skowhegan; eight grandchildren: Amy (Knowlton) Barnes of Millinocket, Carrie Knowlton of Roslindale, Mass., Daryl Knowlton of Millinocket, Seth Knowlton of Bangor, Jesse Knowlton of Portland, Lisa Knowlton of Bangor, and Ross and Nicole Knowlton of Millinocket; one great-grand-daughter, Lily Victoria Knowlton of Bangor; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Elmer was predeceased by a brother, Gerald Knowlton.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Bouchard - Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack Street, Millinocket, where funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Herschel Hafford officiating. Gifts in memory of Elmer may be sent to Katahdin Area Support Group, 10 Field Street, Millinocket, ME 04462, or to I Care Ministries, 45 Spring Street, Millinocket, ME 04462. Online condolences to the family may be expressed at www.lamsonfh.com.
