Wendell George Bartlett

Wendell George Bartlett, 66, of North Anson quietly and quickly went home to be with his Lord, December 18, 2014, at his home.

Wendell was born in Island Falls, Maine, May 14, 1948, the middle son of Alfred and Lillian (Webber) Bartlett of Smyrna Mills.

He attended elementary school in Smyrna Mills and high school at Ricker Classical Institute in Houlton. He graduated from Southern Maine Technical College in South Portland in 1968.

As with most kids from Aroostook County he worked in potato fields during harvest time and during high school he worked on I-95 construction from Island Falls to Houlton in the late 1960’s.

From college he went to work for North Electric Telephone Company (later to become Sprint Corp) out of Galion, Ohio. He traveled doing telephone installation along the East Coast, in Ohio, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina. In 1974, he accepted a position with Somerset Telephone Company (now known as TDS Telecom) in North Anson. He retired from TDS on September 5, 2014 after 40 and one half years as a technician.

He married Donna (Hafford) Bartlett of Allagash on July 17, 1971. They lived in North Anson in the house they bought in the fall of 1974.

He had a love of music, especially gospel music. He also had a great and varied knowledge of computers and spent endless hours building programs to meet what he considered his needs and to help others.

Wendell is survived by his wife Donna (Hafford) Bartlett of North Anson, his sons; Mark and his wife LoriAnne and their son Hunter of Lawrenceburg, TN, Rodger and his children Camdyn and Lexi of North Anson, two brothers; John Bartlett and his wife Christine of Merrimac, NH, and Roland Bartlett of Appleton, WI, two brother-in-laws; Herschel Hafford and his wife Sue of East Millinocket, and Hilton Hafford and his wife Bonnie of Allagash, one sister-in-law Thelma O’Neal and her husband David of Wanchese, NC, and his Bartlett, Hafford and O’Neal nieces and nephews.

He was well liked and respected by his co-workers at TDS. He had many friends but especially the families of Gordon and Bunny Stewart of Smyrna Mills, Percy and Fran Spencer of North Anson, Junior and Betty Spooner of North Anson, Ron Spooner of Madison, Henry and Betty Esty of North Anson, Pastor Tim and Sue Haynes of Anson, and Mrs. Phyllis Webber who predeceased whom he referred to as “his special little lady”.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 1 p.m. at Calvary Pentecostal Church, 160 Old Point Ave., Madison, Maine, with Pastor Tim Haynes and Pastor Herschel Hafford officiating.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine.