Benjamin “Ben” Wheelock

Benjamin “Ben” Wheelock

JEFFERSON – Benjamin “Ben” Wheelock, 87, of Jefferson, Maine died July 1, 2021, of complicated health issues. He was born Dec. 3, 1933, in Calais, Maine, to David C. and Mabel (Sherman) Wheelock and was the last surviving child of 16 who grew up in Coopers Mills.

After graduating from Erskine Academy in 1952, he worked in the local cotton and paper mills to help support his mother. He also proudly served in the Army Reserves for eight years. He moved to Norwich, Conn., to work at Electric Boat, the shipyard in Groton. After 10 years of working on submarines, he moved back to Maine and purchased Brownies Restaurant and ran it with his wife and children for 40 years, a job he truly loved. It was a very social profession, and he considered his customers his family.

Fifty years ago, he and his wife, Carline, built their own summer home on Big Dyer Pond, along with the children, teaching us lifelong carpentry and “fix it yourself” skills. We spent many happy times there enjoying the beautiful Maine summer weather, swimming, boating, and fishing along with their grand and great grandchildren.

He considered himself very lucky to winter in Florida for the past 25 years, enjoying the warm winter weather with new friends and visitors from the “north”. Known for his warm personality, quick wit, and easy conversation he was fun to be around and always had a quirky story to tell. His interests included travel in his blue Chevy van, playing cards, flea markets, going to the fairs, a good cup of chowdah and harness racing. In his earlier years he enjoyed sulky racing and drove his own horses, Fire Island and Adam Butler, following the local race circuit.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Carline (Beaulieu) Wheelock, his three daughters, Marlene and Matthew Colvin and their son, David; Teresa and Richard Holmes and their sons, Chad Maillet, Rick Holmes, and his partner, Jackie Gershman-Mannocchi, Ian Holmes and Justin (Juliet) Holmes; Valerie and Bill Worthing and their children, Benson (Lauren) Merrill, Marlaina and Lillyann Stickney and his only son, Gary (Francine) Wheelock and their children, Cameron (Audra) and Chase. The fourteen great grandchildren are Benjamin, Bella, Helaena, Elias, Graeff, Andrew, Eli, Luke, Jude, Addison, Grace, Eden, Raylee and Baylee. He is also survived by a special nephew, Willie Wheelock, of Augusta.

He was the best Papa ever and left a legacy of always making everyone feel valued and loved. And although he will be greatly missed, he has been woven into our hearts and souls forever.

There will be no visiting hours. A committal service with military honors will take place at 1 p.m., on Saturday, July 10, at St Joseph Cemetery in Gardiner.

A celebration of life will be held the next weekend at his son Gary’s home on Saturday, July 17th at 1 p.m., 10 Overlook Drive, West Gardiner.

Arrangements are in the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, where condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.