Edwin George Hapgood passed away June 16, 2012 at 2:55am, at home, losing his lengthy battle with recurrent brain cancer.Edwin (Ed) was born September 22, 1938, in Boston, Ma. to Chrissy McKeage and Lee Ellingwood.He was adopted at the age of 8 months by Perley and Hazel Hapgood of North Stratford, NH. He grew up in North Stratford, NH, and graduated high school there. He received his Associate Degree in Farm and Ranch Management from Cooke Co Jr College in Gainesville, Texas, in 1986. After graduation from high school, he worked at Pratt Whitney Aircraft in Conn; then joined the USAF in 1958.He spent his 4 year enlistment at 3 bases in Texas, Wichita Falls, San Antonio and Big Spring, working in grounds maintenance, building roads.After discharge from the USAF, he and his wife Mojie and their two children, moved to Lancaster, NH, where he worked for Timberland Machines, repairing logging equipment. The company transferred him to Chelmsford, Ma. as shop foreman.The family returned to Texas in 1968, where he worked for various companies, first as auto mechanic and then moving onto truck and heavy equipment repair and fabrication. He worked for Chevrolet Dealer in Cleburne, Tex. He then operated his own backhoe business, doing excavation and road building at Indian Harbor, Granbury, Texas. He then joined Merrill Buick in Denton, Texas, then worked for several years as Maintenance Foreman for Pilot Point School District, Pilot Point, Tex, and Denton School District, Denton, Tex. He then worked for a Sod Company in Pilot Point, repairing and building trailers.He later worked for Dustrol in Roanoke, Tex; repairing highway recycling equipment. He then worked for B&H Backhoe Company in Sanger, Texas; repairing heavy equipment and trailers.The family moved to Oakland, Maine in 1999, where he worked for M&H Logging in Rangeley, repairing and rebuilding logging equipment and fabricating trailers. His final employment was J&M logging in Augusta, operating wood processor. He retired in 2006.
Ed loved cutting firewood, and sold firewood at different times throughout his lifetime.During his long illness, he spoke often of wanting to cut wood again.He loved to help anyone in need, and did so many times during his lifetime; providing home to troubled teens.It was well known that if you needed a part to fix almost anything, Ed probably had one, or he could build one for whatever you needed.He was an active member of the Oakland Lions Club and was a member ofLiving Waters Community Church.
He is survived by his wife Mojie of 52 years, 3 children, Cindy Kanabe and her partner Bruce Davis of Cartwright, Ok., Steven Hapgood and his wife Pamela of Sanger, Tex; and Daniel and his wife Corinne of Oakland, Me; three grandchildren:Roger Williams of Sanger, Tex; Melina and Megan Hapgood of Oakland, Me; five sisters, PatriciaNye and her husband Marvin of Alfred, Me; Hazel Tilton and her husband Keith of Nottingham, NH, Becky Prosper and her husband Patrick of Milton, NH, Carol Emerson of Rochester, NH., and Sarah Ellingwood of Colchester, Vt; two brothers, Claude Ellingwood of Fairfax, Vt, and Maynard Ellingwood and his wife Agnes of Pittsfield, NH; two stepbrothers, Patrick Decker and his wife Betty of Bucksport, Me., and Elwood Decker and his wife Elizabeth of La; numerous nieces of nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakland Lions Club, 51 Gifford Place, Oakland, Me. 04963.
The family wishes to express thanks and appreciation to the Hospice team and to Ameila Pierce, personal caregiver to Ed, for all the care and support.
Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m., Tuesday 6/19 at the Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church Street, Oakland.Funeral service will be 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 6/20 at Oakland United Methodist Church.Burial will be at Lewis Cemetery, Oakland.
