NAPLES — George Henry Cooper, 89, died on March 9, 2024, surrounded by loving family at his home.

Son of Arthur Gordon Cooper and Rebecca Pauline (Polly) Cooper (Hill), he was born at their farm in Madison, Maine, on March 16, 1934.

His family moved to Naples, when he was 16, where they owned and ran Cooper’s Anchorage on the causeway. He graduated from Bridgton High School in 1952, and went on to earn his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the University of Maine at Orono. He also completed three months of basic Army training, and was honorably discharged under the Critical Reserves Act.

He started dating Florence Gray of Bridgton in their senior year of high school, and they married on June 20, 1954. Their daughter Cynthia was born April 24,1959.

George worked many jobs over his lifetime, having a strong work ethic along with a strong moral compass, and stubbornness for keeping busy. His first job out of college was at United Shoe in Beverly, Mass. He would go on to work as research manager at Thermal Dynamics in Lebanon, N.H. In 1968, he moved back to Maine to work for Bath Iron Works. He and his family then moved to Highland Ridge in Bridgton, Maine when he was offered a job at Howell Labs in Bridgton. He went on to work for Acorn Home modular housing, doing inspections for the Maine Housing Authority, and briefly in real estate. He also served on the Bridgton Planning Board, Board of Selectman, and as plumbing inspector and code enforcement officer.

He had a passion for solar energy, with several patents to his name, and awards for his work. He owned The Sun Barrel, an energy shop in Bridgton, selling and installing solar hot water and energy systems. He was executive manager and then owner/president of Suntime, a Maine company manufacturing parts for solar hot water systems, with a plant in Bridgton.

Many in Bridgton will remember him from when he owned and operated the candlepin bowling alley, Pondicherry Lanes. After “retirement,” he worked several years as a rural carrier for the Naples Post Office.

He enjoyed skiing at Pleasant Mountain with family. He was often doing projects to support his family members — building sheep barns, renovating a garage into a preschool, knitting mittens each winter, doing house projects and repairs, etc. He also enjoyed short vacations with Florence and with his daughter and granddaughters. He attended many LRHS basketball games, a strong supporter at home and away games for both JV and Varsity for many years.

It was his wish to live at home until the very end, and although Alzheimer’s disease made things more difficult, he was able to live out his life at his home in Naples with three years of support from his granddaughters and some outstanding helpers.

He will be remembered for his generosity and sense of humor. He frequently helped so many in times of need. He enjoyed taking drives and stopping in to check on people he knew. Much of his time was spent outdoors mowing grass, raking leaves, and plowing snow with his tractor.

He leaves behind his daughter Cynthia, granddaughters Lauren and Annie, his brother Craig, cousins Barbara and Desira, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Florence, his brother Dean, his aunts, and both his parents.

A service will be held for George and Florence (d. December 10, 2020) in late spring at the First Congregational Church in Bridgton.