Richard Pettengill

CUMBERLAND — Richard Argraves Pettengill, 95, — Dick to most everyone — passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 from natural causes.

Born in Portland on Jan. 10, 1922, he was the middle child of Herbert and Ella (Argraves) Pettengill.

Dick graduated from Deering High School in 1940 and married Martha Stone in June 1942. Five months later, he shipped off with the U.S. Navy to fight in World War II, serving on both the USS Tripoli and the USS Swannee as an aviation electrical engineer in the South Pacific.

He was a devoted husband and father who deeply valued family and took great pride in providing well for Martha and their four children. Dick helped build his father’s grocery store, Pettengill’s, on Farwell Avenue in Cumberland.

His outgoing personality and love of people made him a natural salesman. This soon provided an opportunity to move to the West Coast with his young family, settling in Berkley. They eventually returned to Maine and Dick fulfilled a dream of business ownership, purchasing a small grocery store on Main Street in Cumberland.

After several years, he returned to sales and enjoyed many successful years at Fimbel Overhead Door Company covering all of Northern New England before retiring.

As a volunteer in the local community, he often was asked to be the DJ for Greely High School dances, as well as the auctioneer for the local church fundraisers.

He loved life and spending time with family on weekends. He rarely missed watching the Patriots or Tiger Woods.

Dick and Martha spent many happy years traveling around the country in their motor home with friends and family during summer and fall, and snowmobiling in the winter. He cherished his friends and made many during his long career as a salesman. He always looked forward to the Deering High class reunions and catching up with classmates.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Martha, who was at his side for 74 years; their children, Judy Wiles, Steve Pettengill of Harrison, Richard Pettengill and Nancy Butland of Cumberland; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Herbert Pettengill and Janice Hopkinson.

A memorial gathering will be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Portland, Maine, Salvation Army, or Disabled Veterans National Foundation.