Roger Maynard

ORANGE - Roger Leon Maynard, 87, of Orange, died on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at the Legend Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Gardner. He was born in East Templeton on April 14, 1923, the son of the late Leon and the late Henrietta (Viner) Maynard. He grew up in Templeton with his five siblings, Walter, Mildred and Harold who have predeceased him, Barbara and Nancy. His parents made sure each of their children had a happy childhood. Roger remembered many happy times with all his siblings. Mr. Maynard attended school in Baldwinville until the 8th grade. At 14 years old he went to work on his Uncle Everett's farm in Moretown, VT. Roger came back to Baldwinville at 16 years old and worked with his Uncle Preston on the Boston and Maine Railroad for a year. In 1940 he went enlisted in the United States Army serving during World War II. He trained at Fort Bellevue, VA and was an engineer with the 846 Engineer Aviation Battalion as a 2nd Cook. He sailed to Europe on the Queen Mary and served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was one mile from the front line as his battalion was always moving with the infantry. He attained the rank of Corporal and sailed back to the United States on the Queen Mary in 1942. Roger came back to Royalston to work on the Boston and Maine Railroad. He helped to lay the tracks from Royalston to Athol and on to Gardner. He met his wife Helen Dorothy Larson on a blind date and on June 12, 1948 they were married in Orange at the Bethany Lutheran Church. Roger continued to work for the railroad as a trackman and later as foreman. He worked at the Athol Coal Company part time in the 1960s. He retired from the railroad in 1979. As a retirement gift he received a lifetime railroad pass to anywhere in the USA. He especially enjoyed his trip to California. Roger then went to work for Simplex as a security guard in Gardner. He loved the beach, Red Sox baseball and Johnny Cash. He took pride in his family, home and career. He was a member of the American Legion Post 193, Templeton/Winchendon, the Athol Star Lodge Mason and the Gardner V.F.W. Post 905. He leaves two daughters. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen, in 1985; and by his infant son, Richard. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 11:00 am in the Fiske Funeral Home, 1356 Main Street, Athol. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Westminster. Calling hours will be held Thursday from 10:00 - 11:00 am at the funeral home. $(document).ready(function(){ });