LINCOLN MERRILL CLIFFORD
NEWPORT—Lincoln Merrill Clifford, 85, husband of the late Grace (Frilley) Clifford, died November 2, 2006 at a Pittsfield nursing home. He was born February 24, 1921 at Garland, the son of Edward and Florence (Merrill) Clifford. His mother died after childbirth and Lincoln was raised by his father and stepmother Minnie (Austin) Clifford. He graduated from Garland High School in 1938 and attended Farmington State Normal School. During World War II, he served as a United States Marine in the Pacific Theater.

He was among the first group of Marines to go ashore on a Japanese held island. Lincoln spent most of the war in the Marshall Islands and on Palmyra Atoll. He married Grace (Frilley) in New Bern, NC on November 21, 1942. They were happily married for 58 years.

After his discharge from the Marine Corps, Lincoln learned the printing trade and was employed in Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

In 1956, he and his family moved back to Maine and he began work at the Bangor Daily News where he worked for over 29 years. He enjoyed ham radio (N1FAX), camping, and traveling throughout the United States and Canada. He held a student’s pilot’s license and was proud of his solo flights. He was associated with the Pittsfield congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Lincoln was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Grace; son, Mark and a sister, Mildred (Clifford) Crawford.

He is survived by his twin sister, Florence (Clifford) Timmins of Wakefield, MA; his son and wife, John E.”Jack” and Myrna G. Clifford of Newport; grandchildren and their spouses, Alexander and Tina Clifford of Palermo, Andrew and Heather Clifford of Bangor, Scott and Jennifer (Clifford) Lewis of Gardiner, Kevin and Lisa Purnell of Oakland, and Tharryn and Cheri Smith of Topsham; numerous great grandchildren, including Richard John Clifford; and a special friend, Velma Gallagher of Garland.

Friends may call from 7 to 8 P.M. Friday, November 3rd at Crosby & Neal, 117 Main Street, Newport, where funeral services will be held at 8 P.M with Elder Howard Larrabee, Sr. officiating. Private family committal services will held Saturday, November 4th at the Pine Tree Cemetery, Hermon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Newport Fire & Rescue Department, 23 Water Street, Newport, ME 04953.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.CrosbyNeal.com