Frank Lawler Dr

Eastport – Dr. Frank Delbert Lawler, 100, died Saturday, April 15, 2006 at Eastport Memorial Nursing Home. Dr. Lawler was born in Eastport, July 18, 1905, son of the late Daniel and Patience (Wentworth) Lawler. He was born at home when four and three masted sailing ships were common in the harbor and sardine factories crowded the waterfront. Frank attended school in Eastport, graduating from Shead Memorial High School in 1924. He loved sports, particularly football, and lettered at Shead in many sports. At different times he worked at the Havey and Wilson Drug Store, the canning factory, and Browns located just above where the A&P used to be on Washington Street. Frank loved spending time in Pembroke at his grandparents Wentworth’s farm. Not long after graduating from Shead, he went to Washington Normal School in Machias. During his first year, he organized and started a football team. Frank was so involved, he failed an English course and went to summer school to make it up. He worked waiting tables in the school dining hall. One afternoon, a visiting Superintendent asked him directions to a room. Frank started a conversation and learned the superintendent was hiring teachers. Before the day was over, he was hired to be the principal, janitor and teacher at a three room elementary school house in Milbridge. Frank often joked when telling of his first adventure in education that at the end of the year, he was given a raise but was never sure if it was because of his teaching ability or because he kept a good fire going in the furnace. After two years at Milbridge, he decided education would be his life work. Frank was always interested in providing the best and challenging education for his students. He followed a similar course for himself graduating from Gorham Normal School in 1929, the University of Maine in 1933 with a major in English, the University of Connecticut in 1946 with a Master of Arts and in 1958 from Calvin Coolidge of Boston with a Doctorate in Education. Dr. Lawler was a teacher, principal and superintendent-of-schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. A varied career stretching over forty years from rural one room school houses to teaching at college. His last position in Maine was Superintendent in Saco-Old Orchard Beach. One of his teaching positions took him to Conway, NH, where he was an elementary principal. There, he met the love of his life, Arlene Wardwell, a first grade teacher from Middleborough, Mass. They married on March 25, 1931 and recently celebrated together their seventy-fifth wedding anniversary at the Eastport Memorial Nursing Home. Arlene and Frank were steadfast, loving companions, whom have always kept each other first in their hearts and thoughts. Frank had a firm belief in God, even serving at one time as Deacon in a Congregational Church which he belonged. He was raised in the Masonic craft in April 1940. The Eastern Lodge #7 AF&AM in Eastport will fulfill one of his deepest and longest desires for a Masonic graveside burial ceremony. Frank returned home to Eastport often with his family all during his life. He particularly enjoyed the Fourth of July gatherings and reunions. Frank made many friends most who have passed on before him. He died after a brief but severe illness with his wife, younger son and daughter-in-law with him in his beloved Eastport. Frank was a kind and honorable man who will be loved and remembered by whom all his life has touched. He had a quick smile, a friendly catching laugh, a mischievous twinkle in his eye and always a ready story to tell. Frank was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. May God hold his spirit gently in his hands with those who have also made this journey before him. Surviving are his loving wife of over 75 years, Arlene of Eastport; two sons, Frank Dale Lawler and wife Edith of Indiana, and Jimmy Lawler and wife Joanne of Louisville, KY; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Timothy, and James “Alex” Lawler, Patricia Doggendorf and husband Bill, Nancy Scanlon and husband Joe, and Mil Lawler and wife Laura; and a great-grandson, Jude Lawler. A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. at the Hillside Cemetery in Eastport on Wednesday, April 19, with Pastor Bob Hinton officiating.


Cemetery:
Hillside Cemetery
High Street
Eastport, ME 04631 (map/driving directions)



Visitations:







Services:
10:00AM at Graveside on Wednesday, April 19th, 2006