AUGUSTA – Victor Lister died peacefully at home on Sept. 2, 2021.

Victor was born in Augusta on Oct. 22, 1920, and grew up on Chapel Street in Augusta and later in Riverside (Vassalboro). He attended Cony, worked as a farmhand, then as a bellhop at the Augusta House, prior to joining the Army in 1940.

Victor was a Liaison Scout Sergeant in the 33rd Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. First Infantry Division, serving in Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, France, Rhineland, and Czechoslovakia. He was awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat, and two Silver Stars for gallantry in action.

Victor met Ruth, who was to become his wife of 50 years, when she was singing in the church choir at Fort Devens, Mass. They married during his one furlough home during the war.

Upon discharge from the Army in 1945, he worked for the Leominster Electric Company and Foster Grant Plastics, while attending night school to obtain a high school diploma. On his wife’s urging, Vic attended college on the GI Bill, earning a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a master’s in history from Northeastern, and a master’s in education from Harvard.

Victor became a teacher, first in Stockholm, then in Leominster, Mass., where he helped organize the district’s first Teachers’ Union. He went on to teach in Natick, Framingham, and North Attleboro, Mass. and in Manchester, N.H. Following 25 years of teaching, he worked for the Social Security Administration in Roxbury, Mass.

In 1981 Vic and Ruth adopted their granddaughter, Hillary. They moved to Corinna and enjoyed their retirement years gardening, reading, writing, and visiting friends. Victor moved to Athens in 1998, where he became a regular at the Corner Store and Alice’s Restaurant for morning discussions. Upon turning 97, Victor moved next door to his granddaughter in Augusta, where he had a friendly word for every neighbor walking by and for everyone he met at his favorite breakfast spots, AHOP, Denny’s, and Downtown Diner.

Victor was predeceased by his wife in 1996.

He is survived by his son, Jeffrey; his granddaughter, Hillary; his sister, Janet, his sister-in-law, Joan; and many loving friends from across the country.

Hillary is compiling Vic’s writings and life history. If anyone who knew him would like to share memories, please call 207-314-4692.