Lewiston
1927-2022
Donald Charles Severance of Ellsworth passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at a local hospital after a brief illness on March 26, 2022. Don was born in Bangor on Dec. 11, 1927, to Harold E. and Jarvis O. (Goodridge) Severance. He was beloved by his family and many friends.
Don was raised in Bangor with the strong work ethic of many a Depression era child, working as a paperboy in his youth and unloading railroad cars after school during the early part of World War ll. Leaving Bangor High School early, Don served in the U.S. Navy in both World War ll and the Korean War. He often said that 18 of the most enjoyable months of his life were aboard the cruiser U.S.S. Macon sailing the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas.
After leaving the service, he went to work for the New England Telephone & Telegraph subsidiary of AT&T on a line crew in Aroostook County. Don ultimately became a cable splicer in the Ellsworth office in 1954 until his retirement. He was touted as the fastest cable splicer in New England and twice was named New England Cable Splicer of the Year. In July 1953, Don married his wife, Lois Nickerson, of Cherryfield and together raised two sons.
Don had many varied interests and always kept a current edition of the World Almanac nearby to look up information. In addition to his family, Don enjoyed the outdoors, the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, his dogs, all things U.S. Navy and time at both his camp on Flanders Pond in Sullivan and his hunting camp at “One Government Center” in Beddington. He was a 72-year member of the Masonic Rising Virtue Lodge in Bangor and a life member of the U.S. Navy Cruiser Sailors Association, American Legion and VFW.
Don is survived by his sons, Robert Severance and wife, Joyce, and Thomas Severance and wife, Marge; grandchildren, Andrew Severance and wife, Sarah, Nicholas Severance, Nicole Faherty and fiancée David Dinsmore and Scott Faherty and husband, Patrick; great-grandchildren, Isla Dinsmore and Charles Severance; two beloved sisters-in-law, Mary Higgins and Nancy Willey; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert and his wife of 42 years, Lois.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to Jack Kelly and Marti Flint for their love and support in making to possible for Don to live at his home for his last years.
As he wished, there will be no formal funeral services. To leave a message for the family in their online guestbook, please visit www.crosmanfuneralhome.com.
A service of Crosman Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 40 Main St., Lisbon Falls, 353-4951.