Obituary for Richard Hoisington
FARMINGTON, ME. -- Richard E. Hoisington of Farmington passed away on March 30, 2022 at The Pierce House at the age of 98.
Born in Canton Ohio on June 13, 1923, he was the son of Ellis Bishop and Ruth (Eckis) Hoisington. When he was six, his father died from rheumatic fever. As a result, he spent his early years moving back and forth between living with his mother and sister in Canton, and with his grandparents, traveling between their homes in New Hampshire and Florida. His grandparents had a great influence on his life.
Some of his early school years in N.H. were in a one room school. He graduated from Holderness School in Plymouth, N.H. in 1941. He then attended Middlebury College until he enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1942.
Of the three years of service during WWII, two were spent as a signalman aboard the US Callaway, APA 35, an amphibious attack transport. The ship was involved in seven invasions against the Japanese held islands. During those assaults he was part of a command boat crew that lead the landing craft which had been launched from the Callaway and took the troops to landing sites on the beach. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his part in the assault on Saipan. He recalls seeing the U.S. flag being hoisted on Mt. Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. Later, during the invasion of Luzon in the Philippines he and his ship survived a direct hit by the Japanese kamikaze which killed many of his shipmates. The Callaway was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for its part in winning the war against Japan. He was proud of his ship record and for his being a part of it.
Following his discharge from the Coast Guard, he attended the University of Florida and graduated with a Forestry degree in 1949. He continued his education at the Harvard Forest in Petersham MA to earn his master’s degree.
He began his forestry career in 1951 with the Great Northern Paper Company woodlands division in Bangor, performing management assignments on 2.25 million acres of land owned by the company throughout northern Maine and beginning in 1960 continued his career until his retirement from the woodlands department of International Paper Company based in Chisholm. He could tell many interesting and oftentimes humorous stories about the years he spent time in the woods and about living in the logging camps seventy years ago. He was given a lifetime pass to the North Maine Woods in recognition of the many years he worked there.
He enjoyed most outdoor activities, especially spending time with his family and friends at his camp on Snow Mountain in Alder Stream TWP. He especially enjoyed the time spent with his longtime friend Billy Mitchell with whom he shared many unforgettable “escapades”.
He served as president of both the Farmington Ski Club and the Wilson Lake Golf Club, and served on the Board of Trustees at the Moose Hill Baptist Church. He also volunteered as a driver for Community Concepts. He and his wife, Althea, were members of the Squire Town Squares, a square dancing club in Winthrop for many years. They enjoyed dancing and being with the many friends they made there.
He was predeceased by his wife of 37 years, Althea; and his sister Jane. He is survived by four sons, David of South Paris, Steven of Poland, Richard of Farmington, and Scott of Kingfield, as well as 10 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
Private memorial graveside services with full military honors will be held at Stubbs Mills Cemetery, East Jay. Remembrance gifts may be given in his memory to The Moose Hill Baptist Church, 90 Record Road, Livermore Falls, ME. 04254. Cremation and Memorial Services are in the care of the Wiles Remembrance Center, 308 Franklin Rd., Jay. Memories may be shared in his Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com.
Born in Canton Ohio on June 13, 1923, he was the son of Ellis Bishop and Ruth (Eckis) Hoisington. When he was six, his father died from rheumatic fever. As a result, he spent his early years moving back and forth between living with his mother and sister in Canton, and with his grandparents, traveling between their homes in New Hampshire and Florida. His grandparents had a great influence on his life.
Some of his early school years in N.H. were in a one room school. He graduated from Holderness School in Plymouth, N.H. in 1941. He then attended Middlebury College until he enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1942.
Of the three years of service during WWII, two were spent as a signalman aboard the US Callaway, APA 35, an amphibious attack transport. The ship was involved in seven invasions against the Japanese held islands. During those assaults he was part of a command boat crew that lead the landing craft which had been launched from the Callaway and took the troops to landing sites on the beach. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his part in the assault on Saipan. He recalls seeing the U.S. flag being hoisted on Mt. Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. Later, during the invasion of Luzon in the Philippines he and his ship survived a direct hit by the Japanese kamikaze which killed many of his shipmates. The Callaway was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for its part in winning the war against Japan. He was proud of his ship record and for his being a part of it.
Following his discharge from the Coast Guard, he attended the University of Florida and graduated with a Forestry degree in 1949. He continued his education at the Harvard Forest in Petersham MA to earn his master’s degree.
He began his forestry career in 1951 with the Great Northern Paper Company woodlands division in Bangor, performing management assignments on 2.25 million acres of land owned by the company throughout northern Maine and beginning in 1960 continued his career until his retirement from the woodlands department of International Paper Company based in Chisholm. He could tell many interesting and oftentimes humorous stories about the years he spent time in the woods and about living in the logging camps seventy years ago. He was given a lifetime pass to the North Maine Woods in recognition of the many years he worked there.
He enjoyed most outdoor activities, especially spending time with his family and friends at his camp on Snow Mountain in Alder Stream TWP. He especially enjoyed the time spent with his longtime friend Billy Mitchell with whom he shared many unforgettable “escapades”.
He served as president of both the Farmington Ski Club and the Wilson Lake Golf Club, and served on the Board of Trustees at the Moose Hill Baptist Church. He also volunteered as a driver for Community Concepts. He and his wife, Althea, were members of the Squire Town Squares, a square dancing club in Winthrop for many years. They enjoyed dancing and being with the many friends they made there.
He was predeceased by his wife of 37 years, Althea; and his sister Jane. He is survived by four sons, David of South Paris, Steven of Poland, Richard of Farmington, and Scott of Kingfield, as well as 10 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
Private memorial graveside services with full military honors will be held at Stubbs Mills Cemetery, East Jay. Remembrance gifts may be given in his memory to The Moose Hill Baptist Church, 90 Record Road, Livermore Falls, ME. 04254. Cremation and Memorial Services are in the care of the Wiles Remembrance Center, 308 Franklin Rd., Jay. Memories may be shared in his Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com.