AUBURN — Edwin Frederick White, 80, died peacefully Thursday, Dec. 9, at Hospice House, after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Worcester, Mass. on June 2, 1930. Mr. White grew up on the campus of Mount Hermon School for Boys in Northfield, Mass., where he graduated in 1948. He earned his bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Massachusetts in 1954, and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, maintaining lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers.

After serving his country for two years in the Air Force, Mr. White and his wife made their home in Stratford, Conn., for 45 years, where he worked for Southern New England Telephone Co., retiring in 1985 after 30 years.

Mr. White was an active member of the Stratford United Methodist Church, where he also served as scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 72. After stepping down as scoutmaster, he continued to work with boys on individual merit badges and spent many years training adults in Boy Scout leadership through the Wood Badge program, ultimately earning the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to scouting.

In 1999, Mr. White and his wife moved into the log home they built on 16 acres of wooded land in Lovell. He loved nothing more than cultivating his orchard, felling trees for firewood and helping his neighbors, the Bedell Family, tend to their chickens. Mr. White was an active member of the Lovell United Church of Christ. He enjoyed singing in the choir and preparing meals for the congregation and visitors throughout the year. Mr. White was actively involved with the dinner bell community supper in Fryeburg assisting in weekly food preparation and quarterly visits to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn for supplies.

Mr. White of Lovell, formerly of Stratford, Conn., is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Platt White; their four children, Mark A. White of Freeland, Mich., Kevin A. White of Shelton, Conn., Debra W. Delmonico of Fryeburg and Diane W. Mealo of Apopka, Fla.; nine grandchildren; his two brothers, Robert F. White of Eastham, Mass. and William B. White of Greenfield, Mass.; and many nieces and nephews.

A service in Mr. White’s memory will be held at the Lovell United Church of Christ, 1174 North Main Street, Center Lovell, on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. All are welcome. Fellowship will occur in the church basement immediately following the service. There will be no calling hours. Final arrangements were made through Funeral Alternatives of Lewiston. Mr. White’s remains will be interred at the Mount Hermon Cemetery, North Gill Road in Northfield, Mass., at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.