Ralph P. Buzzell

GARDINER – Ralph P. Buzzell, 93, proud son of Maine, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Renaissance Manor on Cabot in Holyoke, Mass., surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Franklin, Maine on Nov. 10, 1931, Ralph graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1948. He married his childhood sweetheart, Harriet, with whom he shared 67 years of marriage, on Sept. 29, 1951.

Ralph served in the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War as a flight crew chief. He was stationed in Japan for 18 months without his beloved wife, Harriet—much to his dismay. Later they were stationed together in Maine and Texas, then lastly in Long Beach, Calif.

After his service in the USAF, Ralph received a degree in Business Administration from Husson College in Bangor, Maine. Ralph worked as an insurance industry professional for Kemper and Worcester Mutual, retiring from The Hanover Insurance Group in Portland, Maine in the mid-1990’s. Ralph’s career took him to Massachusetts and Connecticut, but he always loved returning home to Maine for family visits and summer vacations – when crossing over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, he would roll down the car windows and exclaim “Ah, smell that Maine air”.

In 1969 Ralph and Harriet moved from North Haven, Conn. and settled in Gardiner, Maine to raise their family. Together, Ralph and Harriet served their community by volunteering at the Winter Street Baptist Church, the Gardiner Food Bank, and at their retirement community, Shady Oaks, in Zephyrhills, Fla. where they resided six months of the year for 20 years. Their time in Florida was spent developing many dear friendships and enjoying the loving fellowship at the Temple Baptist Church in Dade City, Fla.

Ralph was a sportsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting with his brothers and other family members in his earlier years. He loved the outdoors and found comfort working in his vegetable garden and roaming around his back field in Gardiner. Over the last year and a half, while living with daughter Karen and family in Hatfield, Mass., he marveled at the American Bald Eagles that visited the trees on the Connecticut River banks behind the family home.

Ralph was an enthusiastic wood carver, a hobby he enjoyed with friends in both Maine and Florida. He also spent many hours reading books by his favorite authors, David Baldacci and Louis L’Amour, among others. Above all, Ralph was guided by his deep, Christian faith, and he enjoyed spending time with family. He valued his wife Harriet, his children and his grandson. He valued his family in Ellsworth, Maine, where he would often return to visit those whom he deeply treasured throughout his life.

Ralph was predeceased by wife, Harriet (Morgan) Buzzell, parents Jotham Buzzell and Lorene (Ryder) Buzzell, brothers Jotham, Jr., Milton and Leroy Buzzell, sisters Phyllis Ashe and Geraldine Leonard of Ellsworth, Maine. He was also predeceased by a son, Calvin Buzzell of Gardiner, Maine, as well as many uncles, aunts and cousins.

Ralph is lovingly remembered by his daughter, Karen M. Prew, son-in-law, Christopher J. Prew; his grandson, Conor L. Prew of Hatfield, Mass.; and his beloved niece and caregiver in later years, Wilma Ware, of Chelsea, Maine. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at The Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta, Maine, on Wednesday, June 18 at 12:00 noon. A burial with military honors will immediately follow.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers,

donations in Ralph’s honor may be made to:

the Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner, Maine, https://gardinerpubliclibrary.org