VASSALBORO – Lawrence Bartlett, 95, passed peacefully on Friday, August 11, 2023. He was the son of Kenneth and Beatrice Overlock of Maine.

At the age of 16 he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and proudly served his country, serving in World War II on the Liberty Ships, the SS Grace Abbott and the SS William Paca.

Upon his return from World War II, he helped his father Ken on the farm, these life experiences helped develop a hard work ethic that was passed down to his children. In 1947 he married Mary (Fenton) Bartlett, and they had two children together. Eventually moving to California where he opened his trucking business.

In 1965, he married his late wife, Beverly, and moved his growing family back to Maine in 1966. Larry worked for the City of Waterville as the Director of Public Works. He owned and operated Larry’s Equipment Service and Sales and Main Street Motors, Inc. where he spent much of his life at auto auctions buying and selling cars, with a passion in special interest vehicles. Having been asked to teach for KVVTI, sharing his immense knowledge of diesel mechanics was something he was proud of and enjoyed. He will be fondly remembered by his students and employees as “Diesel Doc.”

Larry was a member of the Lions Club and American Legion, he was a Mason, and the longtime President of the Downeast Chapter of the Maine Merchant Marines where the group worked tirelessly and successfully to bring attention and recognition to the service members of the Merchant Marines.

Most important to him however was his family. He is survived by his five children and their spouses, Tanya Flager (Dann) of Upland, Calif., Lawrence T. Bartlett (Debbie) of Mesa, Ariz., Pamela Lemieux (Ralph) of North Vassalboro, Maine, Lisa Sinde (Rich) of Travelers Rest, S.C., and Tina Avelar (Luis) of Nashua, N.H; twelve grandchildren, Danny Flager, Jimmy Flager, Tara Bartlett, Amanda Bartlett, Derrick Lemieux, Richard Sinde, Brittany Sinde, Megan Sinde, Candace Sinde, Shaye Harwood, Cory Avelar and Jessica Avelar; as well as 11 great grandchildren. Larry is also survived by his granddog Sage, lovingly known as “Woof Woof.”

He had two wishes, first was to remain in his home to finish his life’s journey and with the help of his family he was able to do that, and secondly was to make his family proud, which he did with abundance.

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