Gene Ernest was known as many things – Navy vet, business manager, husband, father and grandfather; sailor, golfer, bowler, runner, biker, paddle sportsman, camper, competitive swimmer, community volunteer and more. But most people knew him as Captain Gene.
Gene took his final voyage Dec. 18th, dying in Rockport surrounded by family members following a very brief illness.
C. Eugene Ernest was born May 26, 1931, the eldest child of Charles E. and Alva (Holgren) Ernest, in Hackensack, N.J. He grew up in the Bronx and later in Staten Island’s West Brighton neighborhood, graduating from Curtis High School; and joined the Navy in 1951. Following his four-year service, he took advantage of the G.I. bill to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration at night school, while working full-time and raising a family.
Gene married Carlyn Young, a registered nurse, in 1956, living first in her hometown of Tottenville, Staten Island, and then moving to Cranbury, N.J. Gene’s business career took him from Mobil Oil to Baxter Laboratories/Wallerstein Division and finally to Rutgers University, where he served as Director of Business Affairs for Cook College, the university’s “ag school.”
During these years, the couple and their three daughters camped, hiked, canoed and took up cross-country skiing, all of which came in handy when the Ernests bought a camp on Coleman Pond in Lincolnville. Gene and Carlyn organized an Outing Club that capped every year with Christmas caroling around Cranbury, ending with an ornament-making party at the Ernest home.
In retirement, Gene and Carlyn traveled overseas; and lived for a time in Belle Isle, S.C., and also in Camden. During these years, Gene appeared as an extra in two major motion pictures. In 1998, the couple bought a house on Ripley’s Creek in Tenants Harbor, where they lived until moving into an independent apartment at Quarry Hill in Camden a couple of years ago.
Throughout his life, Gene was devoted to family, proud of his daughters and grandchildren; organizing reunions that brought together siblings, cousins and grandchildren from around the country; and dancing the night away at their weddings. He was physically active and always up for a new challenge, including a memorable windsurfing stint and years of winning performances in the local YMCA’s U.S. Masters Swimming program. The month of his 89th birthday, he completed a 5K on the Anderson Inn treadmill. In earlier years, he was a regular participant in local road races; and he could be found during more recent summer nights playing “glow golf” at the Union Country Club. Most of all, he loved being on the water, preferably under sail but also for a while as holder of a “6-pack” Coast Guard motorized vessel license, giving tours aboard the Quoddy Belle.
A lifelong Democrat, Gene was a veteran for peace in deed, if not membership. In recent years, he marched with the Midcoast Peace and Justice group and took part in the annual Veterans Day program at the American Legion Hall in Camden. He also contributed spot-news photos to the Courier-Gazette, landing large on the front page more than once.
Gene was predeceased by siblings Elsie and John. He is survived by Carlyn, his wife of 64 years; daughters Dagney (Bill Eberle) of Thomaston, Melissa Aul (Jerry) of Rice Lake, Wis., and Kristé (Ron Smith) of Rockland; brother Don of Smyrna, Del.; brother-in-law John Young of Camden; grandchildren Dr. Allison Saiz (Augustine), Dr. Bryce Aul (Andrea) and Alayna Pollis (Ben); and a number of nephews and nieces.
Arrangements are by Riposta Funeral Home/Direct Cremation of Maine. There will be no service. Donations in Captain Gene’s honor may be sent to the St. George Community Sailing Foundation (stgeorgesail.org); or to the St. George Volunteer Firefighters’ and Ambulance Association (st.georgemaine.com).
ROCKPORT — Lowell A. Jones, Sr., 81, died peacefully, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, with his loving family at his side.
On April 23, 1938, Lowell was born on Beech Hill in Rockport, where he lived for most of his life. He was the youngest of five children born to Oramon Bernard (O.B.) Jones and Marion Jones.
Along with his lifelong friends and classmates, Granville Ames and Carlton Farley, Lowell was a 1956 graduate of Rockport High School. Following high school, Lowell enlisted in the US Navy. It was here that Lowell would begin his lifelong career as a barber after cutting the Admiral’s hair.
Although not the official Navy Barber, he kept busy on his off time cutting hair for his fellow ship mates. Released to the reserves, Lowell returned home and attended Barber School in Lewiston.
Lowell married Jean Frye, and together they had four children during 22 years of marriage. For the past 23 years, Lowell and Gerry Hanley, who grew up as neighbors on Beech Hill, have been companions. Between the two of them, they boast 10 children, and many grand and great-grandchildren.
An avid sportsman, Lowell loved the games of golf, baseball and bowling. In over 50 years he never missed a Tuesday league night at the local bowling alley. The camaraderie and friendships he formed there were lifelong.
For more than 17 years he passed on his knowledge and love of baseball as a coach to local Little League and Babe Ruth teams. Even after his own children left the league, he continued coaching.
Lowell was very community-minded and spent many years on the planning/zoning board for the town of Rockport.
Another favorite pastime was spending time in the great outdoors. He loved being in nature, whether it was hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, or chopping wood. He enjoyed it all.
With a family background in the barbering trade, Lowell followed easily in his father’s and brother Allen’s footsteps. For over 55 years he operated Jones Barbershop with his brother and business partner, Roger in the center of the town of Camden. The brothers enjoyed each other’s company and kept things interesting and fun for their loyal customers and many friends. He will be sadly missed by all who loved him.
Predeceased by his brother Allen Jones and a sister-in-law, Joanne Jones, Lowell is survived by his companion Gerry Hanley of Rockport; his children, Barri Jones-Skalky and her husband David of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.; Lowell Jones, Jr. and his wife Susan of Union; Darren Jones and his wife Eileen of Acton, Mass.; Amy Denekamp and her husband Richard of Emerson, N.J.; his brother Roger Jones of Rockport; his sisters, Marilyn Winchenbach and her husband Kenneth, also of Rockport, Carol Knapp and her husband Malcolm of Lynnfield, Mass.; his grandchildren, Jessica Jones and her companion Aaron Tibbetts, Amy Griswold and her husband Mike, Abigail Skrabak and her husband James, Ian, Keira, and McKenna Skalky, Jacob Denekamp, Declan Jones; his great-grandchildren, Lydia, Braydon, and Dorothy Griswold, Virginia Skrabak, Corrine Jones-Tibbetts; Gerry’s children, Richard, James, Wesley, William, and Kenneth Hooper, and Christie Keizer; several grandchildren on Gerry’s side of the family; as well as many nieces, nephews, and too many customers and friends to count.
Family and friends are invited to visit from 2 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, at West Rockport Baptist Church, Park Street, West Rockport.
Fellowship will continue at the Rockport Lodge of Masons, Main Street, Rockport immediately following the service, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Interment will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made Beech Hill Preserve (Coastal Mountains Land Trust), 101 Mount Battie Street, Camden, ME 04843.
To share a memory or condolence with the Jones family, visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com.
CAMDEN — Julie Drinkwater Landwehr, 56, died at her home Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, with her family by her side after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Born in Camden June 20, 1963, she was the daughter of Walter and Glenna (Rollins) Drinkwater and was a member of the Class of 1981 at Camden-Rockport High School.
On July 7, 1984, she married Peter Landwehr, of Appleton at the First Congregational Church in Camden. They made their home at the Landwehr Farm on Appleton Ridge and raised their sons, Ryan and Adam, there. In recent years, Julie built a home in Camden to be closer to work and family. Throughout her life, Julie enjoyed many summer days at the Drinkwater family camp on Coleman Pond in Lincolnville and the Landwehr camp on Sennebec Pond in Appleton. She was happiest floating around the pond and basking in the sun, cold drink in hand.
Julie enjoyed a fulfilling career as a hairdresser, a profession she imagined for herself at a very young age. She completed cosmetology studies at Head Hunters School of Hair Design in Portland and went on to earn her barber’s license, as well. Julie was a fixture at Eric’s Barber Shop in downtown Camden for the past 35 years, and in that time, she developed an extremely loyal following of customers, many of whom became friends. Julie’s gift with barber shears was only outmatched by her everyday acts of kindness which she granted with pleasure and without hesitation to anyone who was down on their luck.
Julie was a role model for many who dealt with illness and adversity, though she never chose to let these struggles define her. She was simply too busy cheering on her sons, daughter-in-law, nieces and nephews in all their endeavors; too happy seeking bargains at yard sales, local thrift shops and on Christmas shopping expeditions. She was an extraordinary prankster in the most fun and mischievous sense and a master of disguises and accessories of all kinds, from nylon stockings to rabbit teeth. No birthday was complete without a phone call from Julie and the singing birthday bear. She took up golf as an adult, at first to spend time with her father and later to satisfy her competitive nature. She remained close with many of her childhood friends, enjoying adventures close to home and through travel. Procrastination was not in Julie’s vocabulary; her word of choice was “hope.”
Above all, Julie cherished moments with her family and friends and they loved her right back. “Join in for Julie,” a recent fundraising dinner and auction staged by her friends, drew more than 500 people together for an afternoon to celebrate the life of this amazing woman. She was humbled and grateful to know that she could harness the power of community in such a profound way. At last, Julie is cancer-free and still shining her warmth down upon us.
Surviving is her husband, Peter Landwehr; her mother, Glenna Drinkwater; her sons, Ryan Landwehr and Adam Landwehr and his wife, Elise; two brothers, Kurt Drinkwater and his wife, Amy and Todd Drinkwater and his wife, Kendra; mother-in-law, Joan Landwehr; sisters-in-law, Monica Cleveland and Nina Hutchins and husband, Darryl and Cindy Landwehr; brother-in-law, Paul Landwehr and wife, Debra; aunts and uncles, Harold and Dot Drinkwater, Maxine Simmons and Scott and Sandra Rollins; nieces and nephews, Evan, Addie, Morgan, Sage and Lucas Drinkwater; and many cousins. Julie was predeceased by her brother-in-law Jeffrey Landwehr and her father, Walter Drinkwater.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden. There will be a memorial service followed by a reception at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7 at the First Congregational Church UCC, 55 Elm St., Camden, with the Rev. Dr. Ute Molitor officiating. If desired, memorial gifts may be made to the Shields Mission Fund c/o First Congregational Church UCC. Condolences and memories may be shared by visiting Julie’s Book of Memories at longfuneralhomecamden.com.