Robert V. Boggs Sr.

Robert Victor Boggs Sr., 92, beloved father, grandfather, brother and husband, died suddenly of cardiac complications on Nov. 25, 2012.

With the exception of four World War II years of service and the last two years living near his son in Bridgton, he lived his entire life in Augusta.

Born at home in Windsor on June 13, 1920, he was the son of Robert T. Boggs and Myrtle Trask Boggs. His father superintended numerous area farms in the 1920s and ’30s, and finally built a home for his wife, young son, and two older daughters Jean and Sally in rural Augusta.

Robert attended the Bolton Hill School and graduated from Cony High School in 1939. He gathered skills at Gates Business College, was employed by Bath Iron Works and then was drafted into the U.S. Army in the fall of 1941. He served in the Army Engineers, then volunteered for the Flying Cadets of the Army Air Corps, and was then transferred to the 87th Infantry Division, which became part of General George S. Patton’s 3rd Army. He fought through France and into Germany before being sent into Luxembourg and Belgium to push back the last major Nazi attack of the war. As a staff sergeant, he led an anti-tank gun crew in the Battle of the Bulge. On Jan. 7, 1945, his position was overrun by an assault of German Tiger Tanks after taking a direct hit which knocked out his squad. Severely wounded by a tank shell that hit his helmet, Robert was awarded the Purple Heart and hospitalized for six months, then sent back to the United States and honorably discharged in October of 1945.

As a post war civilian, Robert worked clerical and office management jobs for the State of Maine, Great Northern Paper Company, Delaware Feed Stores, Coca Cola Company, Daniel’s Auto Parts and Insurance Towing Company of Maine.

On May 18, 1952, Robert married the former Constance May Niles, also of Augusta. Together they raised four children who are his survivors today: Lynda L. Anderson of Durham, N.C., Jack W. Anderson of Woodstock, Vt., Robert V. Boggs Jr. of Bridgton and Sally J. Gilbert of Goodyear, Ariz. Also surviving are three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Robert was predeceased by Constance, his beloved wife of 56 years, and his sisters Sally A. Cummings and Jean Grant.

Robert’s life can be measured by the degree of his commitments and service to God, family and country. He remained active in organizations devoted to service and fraternity. He was a Mason for over 60 years in the Bethlehem Lodge in Augusta. He also was active in Commandry and Blue Lodge and joined the Kora Shrine, as well. He was a many-decades member of Penney Memorial United Baptist Church. Robert was longtime chaplain for the John F. McPherson Chapter of Disabled American Veterans and volunteered to provide transportation for veterans at the Togus Veterans Administration. He worked tirelessly to help plan and develop the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

Robert and Constance enjoyed reunions of Cony High School classes of 1939 and 1941 over the decades. They also traveled about the country and to Europe to attend reunions of the 87th Infantry Division. They also traveled to Hawaii, Aruba and Barbados.

Visiting hours will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, One Church Street, Augusta. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Monday, followed by an interment service at 12 p.m., with full military honors, in the chapel at the new Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta.

Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home’s website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com