UPTON, Wayne A., 71, Nov. 27, 2015. Friends and family attended the funeral service at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 30. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
MONTICELLO — Wayne A. Upton, 71, passed away on November 27, 2015 at Houlton Regional Hospital, surrounded by his family, after a long illness. He was born on March 2, 1944, in Monticello, the son of Ivan and Vivian (Beaton) Upton. Wayne graduated from Bridgewater Classical Institute, class of 1962. Following graduation, he attended University of Maine at Orono where he studied history. Following that, he returned home where he pursued a career with the Maine Department of Transportation, in which he worked for 41 years. During those early working years he began a relationship with the love of his life, Debbie Hanning, which led to their marriage November 2, 1973. They settled in Monticello and celebrated 42 years of marriage this November.
Wayne’s greatest joy was his family and he dedicated his life to them. He enjoyed every chance he could to spend time with his wife and daughters, in their younger years driving them to practice, watching games and musical performances. In later years he enjoyed his grandchildren, often beating them at card and board games. Other enjoyments in life included the time he spent with family at both Harvey Siding and Marcia and Tim’s camp at the lake. He was an avid sports fan and found great pleasure in following the Patriots, UNC Tarheel basketball, UMaine Hockey, and especially the Houlton Shiretowners and the Red Sox.
In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a brother, Stephen, and brother-in-law, Brian. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, a daughter, Jennifer (Upton) Hickey; her husband, Aaron, and their son, Connor; a daughter Erin (Upton) Cary; her husband Matthew, and their children, Keegan, Greyson, Callen and Caitlyn; a brother, Charles and Ida Upton; a sister, Patsy and Dale Thibodeau, a sister, Dianne and Tom Berry; and a brother, Max; a mother-in-law Jean Hotham; a sister-in-law, Marcia, and Tim Smith, a brother-in-law, Bruce and Stella Hanning, and a brother-in-law Mark and Angela Hanning; many nieces and nephews as well as grandnieces and grandnephews.
Special thanks to Dr. Abouleish, his devoted physician, the staff at Gardiner Nursing Home as well as the staff at Houlton Regional Hospital who took exceptional care of Wayne during his last days.
Family and friends attended the funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday, November 30, with Pastor Steve Straubel officiating at the Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton, ME. Interment will be at Jewell Cemetery, Monticello. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Wayne in a special way may make gifts in his memory payable to the Houlton High School Boosters, c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton, ME, 04730. Online condolences and guest book: dunnfuneral.com.
