Hubert R. Rich, 91

Hubert Rich

Hubert Rich

NORWAY — Hubert Raymond “Hugh” “Hubie” Rich, 91, of Bridgton, died peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Stephens Memorial Hospital.
He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Sept. 3, 1923, the son of Ulysses S. and Gladys E. (Davis) Rich. He graduated from Greenville High School, Greenville, Michigan, with the class of 1941.
Hubert entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in Sept. 1941, soon after reaching his 18th birthday, and served four years during World War II. He reentered the U.S. Air Force in Oct. 1947, and served 16 more years, retiring on Oct. 30, 1963, with 20 years of honorable service.
Hugh was appointed postmaster of the Bolsters Mills post office in 1968, and when that post office was phased out, he was transferred to the Portland post office on Forest Ave. He retired in Oct. 1980, with a total of 33 years of federal service.
Hugh met and married Lillian Rand of Harrison, in 1953, while they were both serving in the U.S. Air Force as enlisted personnel with NATO Headquarters in Fontainebleau, France.
A native of Michigan, he and his family settled in Maine after his retirement from the Air Force. They lived in Bolsters Mills for 25 years before he and Lillian moved to Florida in 1988. They enjoyed many happy years there, before returning to Maine to be close to family.
Hubert was a very outgoing “people person” and loved music; he taught himself to play the keyboard and piano, and had entertained at Veterans homes and the Sidewalk Art Festival in Norway. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife of Bridgton; a son Victor S. Rich of Bridgton; two daughters, Rita Roby and her husband, Dr. Scott Roby of Fryeburg, and Susan Bergmann and her husband, Daniel of Ketchikan, Alaska; his sister, Norma Gray of Perrinton, Michigan; three grandchildren: Kyle Kimball of Waterford, Kelly Parrott of No. Bridgton, and Brenna Cordner of Fairfax, Vermont; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews from both Maine and Michigan
Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at the Chandler Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 8 Elm Street, Bridgton. A graveside service will be held in the spring at the Harrison Village Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a Veterans facility or The Good Shepherd Food-Bank, 3121 Hotel Road, P.O. Box 1807, Auburn, ME 04211.