CHELSEA – Richard Joseph Beaulieu Sr., 96, went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 6, 2023. He passed peacefully at the Togus Springs Hospice Center after a hard-fought battle with dementia surrounded by his loving family.

Richard was born in Augusta, Maine on March 30, 1927, to Willie Beaulieu and Delina Levesque. He grew up on Cony and Willow Streets with his fourteen brothers and sisters. His industriousness was evident early as he collected scrap metal in his homemade wagon, delivered groceries and fixed bicycles to help support the family.

He was drafted into the Army at the age of 18 in 1945 and served two years during World War II traveling to France and Germany. He was honorably discharged with an Army Occupation Medal and WWII Victory Medal.

He returned to Augusta, Maine and worked for Statler Tissue where he met his bride to be, Theresa Dumas which led to a 74-year romance. He worked there for 26 years and later worked for the State of Maine as a carpenter building exhibits. One of his many exhibits included a 2,500-pound fiberglass egg, used as a booth to promote the Maine egg industry. He retired from the State after 22 years at the age of 62.

He loved life, adventure, home improvements and helping family and strangers. He enjoyed woodworking in a shop he built behind the house. He made unique cabinets for each of his children and grandchildren. He loved camping and explored Canada and New England every year with his family. He was very amiable and would introduce himself to his camping neighbors and anyone else who happened to walk by.

After retirement he and Theresa drove their camper to Alaska, Newfoundland, and explored the West to name just a few of the places they visited. Then in January, off to Florida for a few months to spend time with their extended family. Richard and Theresa also enjoyed cruises to Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Every summer, up until the age of 90, you could expect a huge, meticulous vegetable garden and a bag full of veggies to take home. His generosity extended to church family and strangers. He planted extensive flower gardens and made gorgeous bouquets for Theresa all summer long. At Christmastime, his unique wreath making was exquisite.

He was never a procrastinator. If family or friends needed home improvements, he was on it. He could patch, paint, wallpaper, rewire and build a fireplace or stairs to name just a few of his many self taught talents. He enjoyed checkers or ‘scratch’ as they called it with his brother Rome for years, a game that made them laugh so much. He loved bike riding, playing the piano and harmonica, jumping waves with his children, boating, four-wheeling and mostly making others laugh.

He was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Susan Emerson and her husband David, brothers; Willie, Arthur, Ludger, Ronald, Clement, Raymond, Eugene and Paul and sisters; Jeanette, Jackie, Cecile, Gilberta, Simmone and Gabrielle.

Richard is survived by his wife of 74 years, Theresa; five children, Del Smith, Claudette Williams and husband Lloyd, Richard Jr. and his wife Terry, Michelle Newman and husband Doug; eight grandchildren, Lora Trow and husband Norman, Jessie Williams, Chantelle Hahn and husband Dylan, Lyndon Whitcomb and wife Mariah, Cassandra and Gracelyn Beaulieu, Jason and Jessica Skidgel; and six great-grandchildren, Taya and Nolan Trow, Keel and Marina Hahn, Addison and Ella Whitcomb.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 19 at 11 a.m. at the Church Hill Baptist Church, 258 Church Hill Rd., Augusta. Burial will follow at the Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at the Church Hill Baptist Church. Arrangements are in the care of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. Condolences, stories, and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

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