Clarence Bert Dow Jr.

Dow, Clarence Bert Jr., 78, Caribou, in Caribou, March 12, 2008. Arrangements are in the care of the Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, Caribou.
    Caribou – Clarence B. Dow Jr. went home to be with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, on March 12, 2008, at his home in Caribou. He was born November 11, 1929, in Caribou, the son of Clarence B. Dow Sr. and Gladys (Hathaway) Dow.
    He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Wilma (Cox) Dow, who was his partner in every area of his life. He also leaves behind two sons and one daughter; Bob Dow, of Port St. Lucie, Florida; Dr. Jeffrey Dow and his wife Rezeda, of Benton, Maine; and Sharon Williams and her husband Miles (Rick), of Caribou, Maine. His pride and joy were his eight grandchildren; Jessica Dow-Pickard and her husband Stephen, of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick; Jeremy Williams and his wife Andrea, of Columbus, Ohio; Ryan Dow, of Brooklyn, New York; Christopher Dow, of Benton, Maine; Mandy (Williams) Kilcollins and her husband Chris, of Caribou, Maine; Jonathan Dow, of Benton, Maine; Darick Williams, of Caribou, Maine; and Sofia Dow, of Benton, Maine.  “Big Cheese” was loved by his great-granddaughter, Emma Kilcollins, of Caribou, Maine.   He is survived by one brother and one sister; Freeman Dow and his wife Susan, of Caribou, Maine; and Eldora Corriveau, of Caribou, Maine. He was predeceased by one brother, Ainslie Dow. He is also survived by many other relatives and friends.
    Clarence was a veteran of the United States Army, having served with the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He began his business career at Caribou Radio and Electronics. He started Dealers Radio and T.V. where he repaired television sets and small appliances. He had a master electrician license and a motion picture operator license. He ran movie projectors at the old Rudy Theater, at the Fort Fairfield Paramount, and at the Borderline Drive-In. He built the first private microwave system in Maine to bring the Bangor television stations to “the County”. He built cable television systems in Fort Fairfield, Caribou, Presque Isle, and Loring Air Force Base. He later built and owned the cable system in Van Buren as well as 13 other towns in Maine. He built WDHP radio, the first 100,000 watt FM radio station in the county, and later acquired WFST radio. Clarence owned Muzak franchises in 13 of the 16 counties in Maine. He started the ninth Radio Shack franchise ever built at the corner of Sweden Street and Main Street, which later moved and became one of the original stores in the Downtown Mall. He also operated Rainbow Books, Crafts, and Gifts and Rainbow Printing in the Downtown Mall.
    Clarence served on the Caribou City Council and held the office of Deputy Mayor. He was president of both the Caribou Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Corporation. He served on the board of the Aroostook Mental Health Center from 1973 to 1993, serving as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president, and is the current president of Facilities Inc., a post he has held since its inception in 1991. He was a board member and treasurer of the Cable Television Association of America. He was chosen as Caribou’s Citizen of the Year in 1981. He was a member of the Caribou United Baptist Church where he served his Lord as head usher and Sunday school teacher. He went on a missionary trip to Fiji in November of 1999 and was awarded an honorary Degree of Divinity from Fiji Bible College.
    Friends called at Lancaster Morgan Funeral Home Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
    A service to celebrate Clarence’s life was held at the Caribou United Baptist Church Saturday at 1 p.m.
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Caribou United Baptist Church, 16 High Street, Caribou, ME 04736 or to A Certain Sound, P.O. Box 899, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.