Arthur P. Bragdon, Sr.

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Arthur P. Bragdon, Sr.

OXFORD — Arthur P. Bragdon, Sr., 86, of Oxford died Thursday, February 24, 2011 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Eaton on March 2, 1924, the son of Cecil and Etta Morse Bragdon. He attended school in Eaton and started working at the age of 13 to help provide for his family.

He joined the military at the age of 19. He served his country proudly during World War II from 1943 to 1946 in the European African Middle Eastern Campaign. He was injured during combat in Italy and spent 19 months in a military hospital in White Sulphur Springs, WV. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Honorable Service Medal, National Defense and Maine Silver Star. He married his wife Phyllis on December 16, 1957.

He worked at Auburn Metal Buildings for many years. He also did carpentry work in his later years, retiring in 1970. He was an outdoorsman; he enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and camping. He built ice fishing traps and also a camp in Masardis with his two sons in 1991. He was an avid cribbage player and enjoyed playing with his grandson Jacob up until a few weeks before his passing. He also enjoyed motorcycle riding with his brother Clive and wife Lona and friends, Richard and Lillian Purington. He loved his dogs and has had several German Shepherds over the years. He enjoyed traveling New England and Canada and making many long day trips with his wife Phyllis. They would drive to Vermont just to get an ice cream.

Mr. Bragdon is survived by his wife, Phyllis; seven children, Bonnie and husband Ronald Carbary of Meredith, NH, Levi (Rick) Bragdon and wife Barbara of Lewiston, Cindy Giguere and husband Richard of Oxford, Debra Harnden and longtime companion Richard Alexander of Brunswick, Sue Purington and husband Anthony of Mechanic Falls, Arthur (Bub) Bragdon, Jr. and wife Stephanie of Bethel and Tracy Davis and husband Edward of Oxford; two grandsons that were like sons, Michael and Joshua Harnden who always called him "Dad"; 18 grandchildren, Shari, Wesley, Levi, Jessica, Jennifer, Jaime, Eric, Jason, Denise, Keith, Mathew, Mitchell, Kaitlyn, Andrew, Jacob and Dylan; 21 great-grandchildren and his siblings, Martel Craig of Auburn, Clive Bragdon of Masardis, Clair Bragdon of New York, Donald Bragdon of Stockton Springs and Patricia Mollison of Maine and Florida. He was predeceased by his parents; a grandson, Lesley; a great-grandson, Deontae and four sisters, Lois Watt, Phyllis Emery, Julia Stoddard and Nancy Tomh.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Post #150 in Mechanic Falls. Spring interment will be at Gracelawn Memorial Park in Auburn. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, P O Box 819, Lewiston, ME 04240. Arrangements are under the direction of Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. On-line condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.