SOUTH HIRAM — Corliss Alton Sargent, 91, died on Dec. 7, 2012, at Gorham House Nursing Home following a long, brave battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born in Hiram on July 23, 1921, the son of Harry F. and Lena B. (Libby) Sargent. He attended Cornish schools, graduating from Cornish High School in 1940. In his youth, Corliss played and excelled in both basketball and baseball.

He was a World War II veteran proudly serving in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946 as an airplane and engine mechanic crew chief with the 6th Night Fighter Squadron in the Hawaiian Islands, Texas and Florida. Corliss had been on his way to Japan when the war ended.

Corliss was a carpenter for 60 years in Hiram, Cornish, Porter and Parsonsfield. He was also a building and plumbing inspector for several local towns for many years. He was a longtime member of the South Hiram Fire Department, as well as selectman of Hiram for 12 years. In addition, Corliss was a past sachem of the Great Council of Maine of the Improved Order of Redmen, a lifetime member of the Ossipee Valley Agricultural Society, a member of the Charter Oak Grange Patrons of Husbandry of South Hiram, the Greenleaf Masonic Lodge #117 in Cornish, the Ossipee Valley Fair Association and a lifetime member of the Hiram Historical Society.

Corliss and Shirley were honored by the Town of Hiram dedicating the 2005 Annual Report to them. During the last years of his life, he attended Galilee Baptist Church in Gorham.

In addition to his memberships in the many organizations, Corliss enjoyed bowling and fishing in his spare time. He also enjoyed spending time with his four grandchildren who were the light of both his and Shirley’s lives. He appreciated the visits from his many nieces and nephews as they were growing up. They all had a special place in his heart.

Corliss was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Lorraine Southworth; his two half-sisters, Thelma (Hopkinson) Cook and Adeline (Hopkinson) Moody; and his beloved wife of 60 years, Shirley (Pendexter) Sargent.

Corliss is survived by his brother, Lloyd Sargent of Cornish; his daughter, Patricia Bartlett of Gorham; his son, Dwight Sargent of Florida; four grandchildren and one great-grandson; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours were on Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Watson, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple Street, Cornish, where a funeral service with military honors will be on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Cornish in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The South Hiram Fire Dept., 18 Allard Circle, Hiram, ME 04041 or the Sacopee Rescue, P.O. Box 367, Parsonsfield, ME 04047.