Harry Evans Fish (1922-2012)

FARMINGTON – Harry Evans Fish, 90, of Weld, died peacefully, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at Franklin Memorial Hospital, with his loving family by his side.

He was born June 25, 1922 in Farmington, the eldest son of Lewis and Ruby (Howard) Fish. After living in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts with his parents, he returned to Weld at the age of 7 to be raised by his maternal grandmother, Mabel Schofield and her husband, Thomas A. Schofield.

Harry attended Weld schools and graduated at the age of 16 in the class of 1939 at Weld High School. After graduating, he attended welding school in Vermont and then returned to work as a welder at the Portland Shipyard. In 1942, he was drafted into the United States Army where he served during World War II, under Patton’s Third Army, where he saw action in many countries, including North Africa, Germany, Italy, France, and Austria, as a radio control man and more.

After his discharge from the Army, he returned to Weld where he worked at Hilton’s Woodworking Shop, Diamond National, Buddy Vining’s Notty Pine Woodworking business, Forster Mfg, and as a substitute Rural Mail Carrier.

On March 22, 1946, he married Eleanore Libby in Farmington and they had three children, Helen Fish Hader, David Evan Fish, and Susan Fish Wilkins. He was a master mason, belonging to Mystic Tie Lodge 154 of Weld and the Weld American Legion Post 203.

Harry’s passion was to build and fly remote controlled model airplanes. He enjoyed the friends in the RC model clubs, including the FCAM. He also belonged to the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and to quote one of his very good friends in the Club, “a special message to his flying buddies……I’m flying higher than you are now!!!!”

Harry and Eleanor enjoyed several years traveling on senior bus trips, camping trips, and fishing trips with many of his old friends, son and grandsons, and son-in-law, Bill. They enjoyed taking their vans and campers on many excursions to the coast, Canada, Rinebeck, N.Y. for their great air shows, and to Niagra Falls with his grandson, Todd and his wife, Kelly. He enjoyed NASCAR racing – his favorites changed periodically, but Tony Stewart and Kyle Bush remained two of his favorites. He enjoyed “tinkering” in his shops, his computer games and e-mails, and many other hobbies too numerous to mention.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eleanor Libby Fish; daughter, Helen Hader and her husband Bill; son David and his wife, Sonia (Smith) Fish; daughter, Susan Wilkins and her husband, Clayton; grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Todd Hader and his wife, Kelly, and their son Logan; Dana Fish and his wife, Rhiannan and their children, Lilly and Devlyn; Katherine Wilkins and her children, Alyvia and Alex; Jesse Wilkins and companion, Charles and children, Ethan, Zander, and Alyssia; Lisa Nile and her children, Derek, Kristin, Katherine, and Alexis; Donna Hader and her children and grandchildren, and Shain Smith and his wife, Jill and their children, Brenner, Teagan, and Quinn. He is also survived by a brother, William Fish and his wife, Bonnie; sister, Ruth “Betty” Vallee; a brother, Thomas Fish and his wife, Mary; sister, Muriel “Judy” Sawyer and her husband, Frank; sister-in-law, Gloria Jones; brother-in-law, Lester Libby, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; special grandparents, Mabel and Tom; sisters, Shirley Russell, Colleen D’Avignon, Nadine Jacques; brother and sisters-in-law, Katherine, James, Carroll, Jean, Patricia, Julia, Corinne, Dawn, and Barbara.
Condolences and tributes may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.

Public graveside memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 11 a. m. at the Robertson Cemetery in Weld. A reception will be held following services at the undercroft of the Weld Congregational Church. The family suggests that those who desire, consider memorial gifts in Harry’s memory to the Farnklin County Animal Shelter, 550 Industry Road, Farmington, ME 04938. Cremation and memorial services are being cared for and provided by the Wiles Remembrance Center, 136 High Street, Wilton.