Avis de décès de Ernest-A. Richards

WINSLOW -- Ernest "Ernie" Albert Richards, 82, died on Feb. 17, 2006, at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville following a brief illness.Ernie graduated from Winslow High School in 1940, and afterwards attended NYA in Dexter, where he studied mechanics for two years. From there he worked in Fairfield, Conn., before enrolling in the Army in 1943. While in the Army, he excelled in the field of radar repairman. He served six months overseas in the Asian-Pacific Theater as a member of the 7th Fighter Command. He installed, repaired and maintained airborne radar sets, which were aids for aerial navigation and high-altitude bombing. He employed electricians' tools and precision electronic testing devices to troubleshoot and test the equipment, and was skilled in the exacting work of repair and testing. He also served 18 months as a member of the 3rd Air Force and was a radar repairman at Drew Field, Fla. There he maintained, repaired and serviced the reporting radar facility and directed 15 men in this work. In March of 1946, he was honorably discharged from the armed services as sergeant of the 614th Air Engineer Squadron. In 1945, while still in the Army, he married Juliette A. Labreque, and she became his remaining, lifelong, loyal and dedicated mate.After serving in the Army, he became a small-business entrepreneur. He owned and operated, with his wife, an Oakland Superette and the Bingham Motor Inn. He also was the owner and proprietor of a Mobil gas station in Fairfield and a snowplowing business, and became skilled at tuning and restoring pianos. His business as a piano technician lasted until his retirement in 2002.Ernie is survived by his loving wife, Juliette A. Richards of Winslow; his loving daughters, Ernestine Beal and her husband, David, Paula Morris and her husband, Jeff, and Lydia Parsons and her partner, Peter Freyer; and his daughter-in-law, Donna Richards. He was predeceased by his beloved sons, James J. Richards and Andrew E. Richards. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Andrew Richards II, James Richards, Caitlin Richards Hinckley, Zebual Beal, Zachary Beal, Harmony Morris Boore, Vicki Bailey, Billy Driver, Misty Toothaker and Joseph Parsons; and several great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind two sisters, Bertha Lagrange of Bangor, and Angelina Hubert of Waterville. He was predeceased by his sister Rose Roy.There will be no visiting hours. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Owens Street, Bingham, with Father Georges Plante officiating.Arrangements by Giberson Funeral Home, 18 River St., Bingham.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Hospice Volunteers of the Waterville Area, 304 Main St., P.O. Box 200, Waterville, ME 04901.