Edward Pomeroy Ketchen

MEDDYBEMPS – Edward Pomeroy Ketchen, 94, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Calais Regional Hospital with family by his side. He was the husband of the late Joan (Dripps) Ketchen who passed away March 23, 2007. Born in Hartford, CT on July 12, 1919, he was the son of the late Benjamin and Ora (Pomeroy) Ketchen. In 1936 he graduated from high school in Durham, CT. A US Navy veteran of World War II, he served aboard the US aircraft carrier Wasp in the Pacific theater before his honorable discharge as a Chief Petty Officer in 1945. His stories from those years made us thankful and proud to be Americans. Prior to leaving the military, he married his sweetheart, Joan Dripps from Riverside, CA. When the war ended, he brought her to Meddybemps where they would build their life together and raise their family. Over the years Ed worked for Bridges Brothers, Tommy DiCenzo, Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge, MPBN retiring in 1982, and then part time for Channel 2 TV. Aviation was a very important part of his life. He delighted in teaching others to fly, often quoting Gil Robb Wilson’s words; “Oh, glad am I who learned to fly before they fenced the open sky!” Ed had a great love and appreciation for the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, fly fishing and bird watching. He was the one to call for weather information. Ed was appreciated for his long years of volunteer service. He served on the board of Meddybemps Christian Church. He worked with the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program and also organized the annual loon count on Meddybemps Lake and gathered data for the annual ice-in, ice-out reports for our area lakes and ponds. Ed treasured his family, those who lived nearby and those who traveled from faraway places to visit. He is survived by his four children, Sue Ouellette and her husband Al of Spokane, WA, Mark Ketchen and his wife Kathy of Hadley, MA, Sally Ketchen of Meddybemps and Diane Ketchen of Anchorage, AK; five grandchildren, Catherine Whaley and Connie Erickson of Palmer, AK, Cheryl Lindberg of Airdrie, Alberta, Agata Ketchen and Carl Ketchen of Hadley, MA; eight great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Brielle, Bryan, Matthew, AJ, Marcus, Brett and Logan; two brothers-in-law, William Dripps and Raymond Starr, three sisters-in-law, Janet Ketchen, Rosella Dripps and Joan Dodge; one cousin, Doris Steeves; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister Dorothy Ketchen Guire; three brothers, Willard Earl Ketchen, Raymond Arthur Ketchen and Russell Irving Ketchen; a brother-in-law, Daniel Guire and two sisters-in-law, Laura Ketchen and Lois Starr. Visitation for Ed will be held at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1st. A memorial service will begin at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 2nd at the funeral home with Pastors Dana Kadey and Joe McAdams officiating. Burial will be announced in the spring and take place at Meddybemps Cemetery. Following the service all are welcome to join the family at Meddybemps Community Center for refreshments. Donations in Ed’s memory may be made to Meddybemps Christian Church, c/o Liz Trouant, 120 Conant Hill Rd., Meddybemps, ME 04657.