Robert (Bob) L. Glidden, Sr.

Glidden, Robert L., 83, February 16, 2010.  Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
HOULTON – Robert (Bob) L. Glidden, Sr., 83, died following a brief illness on February 16, 2010 in a Bangor Hospital. He was surrounded by his loving family. He was born February 7, 1927 in Dover, NH, the son of Cecil and Ina (Littlefield) Glidden.
    Bob graduated from Kennett High School in Conway, NH in 1945 and immediately joined the Army Air Corps where he served honorably until 1947. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in Durham in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology.
    He began his distinguished career with the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service in 1951 when he entered on duty in the Border Patrol in Texas. Later he was promoted and served as an Immigration Inspector in the Great Lakes region, as a supervisory Inspector at Kennedy International Airport, and was promoted to Officer in Charge in Houlton in 1965. In 1976 he was assigned to the United States Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany. Bob completed his immigration career as a field inspector in Washington, DC, in 1983.
    After retiring, he returned to Houlton where he resumed his lifelong interest in real estate development as a real estate broker and owner of the Hestia Heights Development. He was elected to the Maine Legislature in 1987.
    Bob was a member of the Masonic Lodge and proceeded through Scottish Rites to become a Shriner, most recently through Anah Temple in Bangor. He was a member of the Houlton Elks Lodge and the Island Falls Lakes Association. Throughout his life, Bob was a quietly generous man, giving what he could to those in need.
    Bob enjoyed fishing in all weather, golf, and the Boston Red Sox. He was committed to conserving nature and preserving wildlife. He loved his camp at Pleasant Pond, sharing many happy gatherings with friends and family. He was a dog lover and was always happy with visits from family pets.
    Family was the center of Bob's life. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helen (Maguire) Glidden and two sons, Robert L. Glidden Jr. and his wife, Pamela, of Westfield, Maine; and Dwight E. Glidden and his wife, Elizabeth, of Portland, Maine. He was predeceased by his son, J. Bruce Glidden. He will be greatly missed by his beloved grandchildren, Katherine M. Glidden and her fiance, Christopher Hughes, of Westbrook, Maine; Michael R. Glidden and his life partner Bekah Taylor, of Richmond, Virginia; Matthew C. Glidden and his fiance, Amanda Littlefield, of Portland, Maine; and Alexis A. Glidden  of Farmington, Maine. He adored his great grandson, Kaleb M. Glidden, of Portland.
    Friends may call 10:00 a.m. Saturday at  Saint Mary of the Visitation Church, Military Street Houlton with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m.  A reception will follow at the Parrish Center. In lieu of flowers, friends may make gifts in Bob's memory to the Houlton Humane Society c/o Dunn Funeral Home 1 Park Street, Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolancs may be expressed at dunnfuneral.com