Richard Joseph Plante, 67, formerly of Mexico, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 at his new home in Wayne. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, after a courageous 18-month battle with colon cancer.

He was born in Rochester, New Hampshire on March 30, 1942, the oldest child of Eugene Joseph and Margaret Mae (Martin) Plante of Berwick, Maine. He graduated from Berwick High School in 1960 and attended Nasson College in Springvale, Maine for one year before transferring to the University of Maine at Orono, where he earned a B.S. in Secondary Education in 1964. He served in the Army and then taught 7th and 8th grade language arts and reading at Lebanon Elementary School in M.S.A.D. 60.

He married Elsie Stanley of Little Cranberry Island, Maine on Nov. 4, 1967 at Little Cranberry Island. They moved to Mexico, where he taught elementary school in M.S.A.D. 43 for 38 years. He was Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year and held several offices in the Mexico Teachers Association. For over a decade he also worked as a correspondent and photographer for the Lewiston Sun Journal.

His many community activities included Kiwanis International, Mexico Planning Board, Mexico Historical Society, and Oxford County Democrats. He spent many hours videotaping events for the Western Valley Access Channel and was the current president.

All time spent with his grandchildren was treasured. Some favorite times were the many hours he and Tyler spent playing sports in the gym at Meroby, and the Saturday mornings when he and Ian went bowling and out to breakfast at McDonald’s.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Judy (Plante) Stewart, who died in 1972.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Elsie; his daughter, Jennifer Plante of Dixfield; his son Jeffrey Plante and fiancé Tara Perry, and his grandchildren, Tyler and Ian Plante, as well as a special honorary grandchild, Courtney Morrison, all of Wayne. He is also survived by a brother, Donald, and his wife Linda Plante of Ohio; a sister, Nancy, and her husband Art Tarbox of Berwick, Maine; a brother, Eugene Plante of Florida; and a sister, Sandy, and her husband Wayne Smith of New Hampshire. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank Androscoggin Home & Hospice Care, Rumford Hospital Oncology, the Rumford VA Clinic, and especially Dr. Nicholette Erickson and the staff of CMMC Oncology Associates.

Memorial services will be held, 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 42 Weld St., Dixfield with Pastor Ami Sawtelle, officiating. Following the service all in attendance are invited to a time of fellowship, refreshment and to share in a video tribute at the King Hiram Masonic Lodge in Mexico. Gifts may be given in Richard’s memory to the Meroby Elementary School, 21 Cross St., Mexico, ME 04257 or the Western Valley Access Channel, 13 Brown St., Mexico, ME 04257. Words of condolence may be e-mailed to info@wilesrc.com.