WINTHROP – Ernest “Ernie” Earl Pettengill, 93, of Winthrop, passed away late Sunday morning, Feb. 5, 2023, at Maine General in Augusta.

Ernest was born on June 11, 1929, in Hallowell to Clarence and Gladys (Randall) Pettengill. Ernie was the fifth born of 11 children.

After moving to Mount Vernon, he helped his parents with their farm as a child and teenager. During those years he picked up his skill in hunting as a way to help feed his family, something his father was very proud of.

As an adult he worked in multiple textile mills, including the Carleton Woolen Mill in Winthrop. He later worked in carpentry, building countless houses in the Winthrop area, including the house where he and his wife raised their children and lived for their 72-year marriage.

Ernie was an avid gardener, cultivating a garden of a wide variety of vegetables and up to 300 of his prized tomato plants. He loved to go hunting each fall with his family and enjoyed watching the deer frequent his backyard for a snack during the winter months from the comfort of his sunroom. In the warm months, he loved holding yard sales with his wife and having a family gathering with lobster and clams. He enjoyed watching the daily news to keep up on world events and reading western novels, mostly those of Louis L’amour.

Ernie was the epitome of a jack-of-all-trades, could-fix-it-all-himself man. He enjoyed woodworking and furniture restoration. He was quite talented at this; even building bookcases by hand that have since been given to family members.

Ernest was a true treasure among humankind, especially to his family. He was truly the heart of his family, whom he unwaveringly loved and cared for to his last days. He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him as a quiet, gentle soul with unmatched kindness and love for others.

Ernest is survived by his loving wife, Ethel (Lemar) Pettengill; as well as his brothers Alfred Pettengill and Arthur Pettengill, sisters Dorothy Blake and Susie Crystal; his children, Ernest Pettengill, Larry Pettengill, Joseph Pettengill, Christine Pettengill, and Holly Baldwin; his grandchildren, Monica Pettengill, Jesse Pettengill, Clinton Pettengill, Andrew Smith, Rayanna Munoz, and Bryton Baldwin; and many nieces, nephews; and great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Ernest was predeceased by his daughter, Linda Pettengill and son, Terry Pettengill; his brothers Clarence Pettngill, Herbert Pettengill, and George Pettengill, and his sisters Gladys Williams, Permelia Ridley, and Mildred Dyer.

Ernie will be sorely missed by all that knew and loved him.

Visitation for Ernie will be held at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St. in Winthrop, on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 3-5 p.m. and a funeral on Friday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m.

Arrangements are in the care of the Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop where condolences and memories may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website by visiting http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com

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