GEORGE COAKLEY SWANTON
DEXTER and ROCKLAND - George Coakley Swanton, 90, the husband of Louise (Robbins) Swanton, died Dec. 22, 2005, at Shore Village in Rockland, after a short illness. He was born Feb. 14, 1915, in Dexter, the son of George Eugene and Alice (Larrabee) Swanton. George graduated from N. H. Fay High School, Class of 1933. He attended Farmington Normal School for a year and then worked his way through college at the University of Maine, Orono. He taught school in Argyle before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. During World War II, he served as a medic with the 97th Evacuation Hospital in Normandy, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 13, 1945. On Mother's Day, May 17, 1950, he and Louise were married at the Swanton Farm on the Ripley Road in Dexter.

For much of their adult lives, they lived in Westford, Mass. He worked as a hospital orderly and later as a librarian at Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, Mass. They retired to Dexter and then moved to Belfast 10 years ago. Masonry was an integral part of his life.

He was a 50 year veteran member and Past Master of Penobscot Lodge, No. 39, AF & AM of Dexter, a Past High Priest of St. John's Chapter in Dexter, a member of the Council of Royal Select Masons in Dover-Foxcroft and of the Metro North Commandery, Knights Templar, Reading, Mass. He was also a member of the Red Cross of Constantine in Bangor. The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine is an invitational organization and is considered by many to be the highest honor that can be awarded in York Rite Masonry.

George was also a member and Past Master of the Dexter Grange and a member of the State and National Granges. He was a member of the Pouliot-Seavey Post, A.L. and the John F. Kennedy Chapter, D.A.V.

Surviving in addition to his wife of Camden is a sister, Eugenia S. Horton of Waterford; his niece, Jean Eichhorn of Nottingham, N.H.; stepson, Henry Peach and family of Wales, Mass.; stepson, William Peach and family of Fla., George Eugene Peach and family of Lebanon, Pa., David Peach and family of Dover-Foxcroft, Pauline Peach of Bangor and numerous other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wit, gentle grace and punster soul will be sorely missed by family and friends.

Friends may call 1 p.m. until time of services at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the Thompson Funeral Home, 30 St. Albans Rd., Corinna, with a service conducted by the members of Penobscot Lodge, AF & AM. Spring burial will be in the Smart Cemetery, Belfast.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to the charity of your choice.