Columbia and Craig, Alaska
Abbott Otto “Peter” Greene, 89, died Friday, April 29, 2022, at a Bangor hospital. He was born Dec. 6, 1932, to Ardenia Abbott Greene and Otto Pierre Greene, but was raised by his Aunt Lillian and Uncle Earl Butterfield, who instilled a love of the great outdoors in him that he carried throughout his life.
He attended Columbia Falls High School through his junior year, graduating from Higgins Classical Institute in Pittsfield in 1952. Abbott then attended Colby College, where he met his wife, Nancy Hubbard, whom he married on June 30, 1956. Abbott took part in the ROTC program at Colby College and entered the United States Air Force as a commissioned officer upon his graduation in 1956.
Abbott was a fighter pilot in the Air Force, and spent several years stationed in Europe with his family. He spoke fondly of his time in Europe and had a particular love for his time spent in La Hoube, France. He was also stationed at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine, before joining the Maine Air National Guard (MAINIACS), which he eventually retired from as a lieutenant colonel, having dedicated 28 years to military service.
He started working for TWA in June of 1964, eventually becoming a 747 captain, traveling to every continent except Antarctica throughout his career. He held the world land speed record in Daytona Beach, Fla., for nine months in 1957, racing cars on the beach in the Amateur run. He served as chairman of the board of directors for MSAD 37 for many years, and also was involved in the Grange and Rotary Club and was a Mason.
He loved spending time with his grandchildren during his retirement years and taught several of them how to play cribbage. He loved to hunt and fish, and he became a registered fishing guide in Florida and Alaska throughout the late ’90s and 2000s.
He is survived by his two sons: Wade Greene and wife, Kathy, of Columbia, and Peter Greene and wife, Lorna, of Addison. Abbott had seven grandchildren: Morgan and husband, Barry Curtis, of Cherryfield; Jason Greene and wife, Karen, of Orrington; James Greene of Gouldsboro; Marion and husband, James Butler, of Winterport; Jeffrey Greene and wife, Shelby, of Columbia Falls; Kristopher Greene and wife, Erica of Addison; and Kimberly and husband, Jeff Taylor of Addison. He had 13 great-grandchildren and 16 nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister, Esther Blais; brother, Rob Greene, and wife, Pam; sister, Hillary Greene; and two sisters-in-law, Shelia Greene and Linda Nichol.
He was predeceased by his loving wife of 53 years, Nancy Hubbard Greene; his parents, Ardenia and Otto Greene; his Aunt Lillian and Uncle Earl Butterfield; his in-laws, Clinton and Marion Hubbard; sister, Alice, and husband, Bob Mitchell; and brother, Douglas Greene.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, May 22, at 1 p.m. at Mailey Hill Cemetery in Columbia with Chis Burke officiating. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The LifeFlight Foundation, P.O. Box 899, Camden, ME 04843.