Kenneth R. Gastia

Milford – Kenneth R. “Chicken” Gastia, 78, peacefully passed away on February 10, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Old Town on May 16, 1932, the son of Augustus and Ozilda (Michaud) Gastia.

Kenneth proudly served his country on the U.S.S. Valley Forge in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was a life member of the VFW, Old Town Post 3381, where he was a two-time past Post Commander and Post Chaplin. Kenneth also served as the Grand Commander of the Military Order of the Cooties and served as the Chaplain for the V.F.W. Department of Maine, and was a past member of the American Legion in Orono. He worked for many years the Paper Mill in Old Town and was a member of Local 80. After his retirement from the mill, he became a greeter at Wal-Mart, a position he held for over 10 years. He was a faithful Catholic and a parishioner of Holy Family Church in Old Town. He was also a Notary Public and honored many couples through the gift of matrimony. Ken was a devoted family man who loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and bowling.

Ken was predeceased by his parents, his brother Norman Gastia, and his sister Jeanne Lynch.

Ken is survived by his beloved wife Betty; 9 children, Brenda Arnall and her husband Robert, Ronald Gastia and his wife Sherri, Kevin Gastia and his wife Crystal, Michelle Crate and her husband Doug, Rosalie Owens, Patty Patterson and her husband Tom, Barbara Dunakin and her husband Walter, Roberta Straka and her husband Michael, and Elizabeth Newland and her husband Maurice; 19 grandchildren, Andrew and Joseph Arnall, Dustin and Jason Underhill, Brandon, Daniel and McKayla Gastia, Adam and Matthew Bailey, Blake and Elizabeth Owens, Cory, Josh, and Kenny Patterson, Madeline, Jeremy, and Hal Dunakin, Michelle McEnany, and Aaron Newland; 4 great grandchildren, Jayden Patterson, Isis Bailey, Dylan McEnany, and Cassandra Knowles; brother Robert Gastia and his wife Barbara, brother-in-law Timothy Lynch and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to call from 2-4 and 6-8 pm, Sunday, Feb. 13 at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town, where a short service will be held by the members of the VFW Old Town Post 3381 at 6pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held 10am on Monday, at Holy Family Church, 429 Main St., Old Town. All are welcome to a luncheon following the service at the parish hall. Interment with full military honors will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kenneth’s name to LAVFW Homeless Veterans Project, C/O Janice Gaskill, PO Box, 66 Passadumkeag, ME, 04475. Notes of condolences may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com