Edwin Harris Fogg, 87, died peacefully at his Wolfe Neck home on January 16, 2013. On December 3, 1925, he was born in Freeport to Merrill Osborne, Sr. and Clara Soule Fogg, and was the oldest son in a family of 8 children. He grew up at Grover’s Crossing, was educated in Freeport schools, and loved to tell stories of his early childhood in Freeport.
On June 4, 1948, he married Barbara Jean Coffin, at her family home on Wolfe’s Neck. Eddie and Barbara began their life together by building a house on Old County Road, living there and raising their 5 daughters until they built their retirement home back on Wolfe Neck in 1976.
In 1943 Ed joined the Navy for 30 months serving in the South Sea Islands during World War ll. He was highlighted in the local cable documentary by Ed Bonney for his years in the service.
Ed had a career with United Shoe Machinery, installing and instructing on shoe machines in Maine, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, London and even attended a business symposium in Russia before retiring in 1986.
He loved to laugh and tell funny stories to keep his family amused. He always had a twinkle in his eyes and in his eyes the cup was always “Half Full”. Ed loved to get out on Casco Bay in the boat, and to be outside. He tapped maple trees, cut firewood, and went fishing.
He was very proud of all of his daughters and his family and was the best Father anyone could ask for…a role model and a Loving, Kind, Hard Worker…
Family life was so important to him, including gardening, camping and boating. He took the family on many boat rides and island camping adventures and picnics. He knew the waters of Casco Bay and all the Islands very well. Learned them when helping his grandfather, Edwin Harris Fogg, for whom he was named, and his Father on the charter boat when he was an early teenager when they took fishing parties out from South Freeport. In later years Eddie and Barbara did much traveling in their motor home and visited 48 of the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) as well as various cruises.
His spirit and determination were demonstrated when he learned to downhill ski in his 50’s and continued into his 60’s in order to enjoy the sport and the outdoors with his active family. The family enjoyed many years of an annual visit to The Balsams in Dixville Notch, NH.
He was a member of the First Parish Congregational Church where he taught Sunday school classes, worked on the monthly bean suppers and fairs and was a Deacon in the church. He was a member of the Couples Club at the church for over 50 years. He was active in his community, serving on the School Board, Freeport’s first Town Council and was a member of the American Legion and the Freeport Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed playing cribbage and getting together with his family.
Surviving are his daughters Brenda and her husband John Skillin of Freeport; Gayle and her husband Bruce Gordon of Tierra Verde, Florida; Gloria DeGrandpre of Freeport; Robyn and her husband John Peskovitz of Freeport; his grandchildren John Skillin, Jr., and his wife Rachael of Yarmouth; Sonya and her husband Troy Voutour of Freeport; Allison and her husband Robert Garrett of Tampa, Florida; Katharine DeGrandpre of South Portland; Karen DeGrandpre of Freeport; as well as his great grandchildren Griffin Day of Freeport; Amelia Skillin of Yarmouth; and Caroline Voutour of Freeport, who will all miss him dearly.
He also leaves his sister Marilyn DiBiase of Portland, brothers Joe of Monmouth, Merrill of Freeport and their families, as well as sisters-in-laws, brother-in-laws and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Coffin Fogg in 2010; a daughter, Rebecca Fogg Stilkey in 2008; son-in-law David Stilkey in 2009 and son-in-law David DeGrandpre in 1991. He was also predeceased by his sisters Emily Stimpson and Charlotte Fogg, his brothers Ernest Fogg and Donald Fogg and his brothers-in-law Steve Mitchell, Jack Holme and Ed Stimpson.
Thanks for the loving care from CHANS, especially Carla Kerber and Danielle Zimmerman.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 20 at 12 noon at the First Parish Congregational Church, 40 Main Street, Freeport. Interment will be in the spring at the Grove Cemetery, Pleasant Hill Road, Freeport.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Parish Congregational Church.
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