AUBURN — Bernard Adelbert Tibbetts, Jr., 85, died on Jan. 21 at the Hospice House, following a long illness.

He was born Aug. 9, 1926, in Kingfield, the son of Bernard and Sadie Anderson Tibbetts, Sr. He was educated in the schools of Kingfield and graduated from Kingfield High School in the Class of 1944.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He married Dora O. Taylor in Kingfield in 1956. He was employed as a mechanic, lumberman and drove trucks for local contractors. Bernard also worked for the International Boundary Commission, State of Maine Dept. of Transportation and later retired from International Paper Company.

He was a member of Somerset Chapter No. 80 Order of the Eastern Star of Stratton and Mt. Bigelow Masonic Lodge No. 202 AF and AM of Stratton. In his early years, Bernard played baseball for the North Franklin Town League, where he was a left-handed pitcher and first baseman. He enjoyed gardening and working.

He is survived by his wife, Dora Tibbetts of Eustis; two sons, Alan Tibbetts and wife, Kathy, of Sidney and Gene Tibbetts of Old Orchard Beach; one daughter, Julie Talmage and husband, David, of Kingfield; stepson, Richard Frost of Rangeley; sister, Elene Holmes of Augusta; and five grandchildren, Taylor Talmage of Brunswick, Christian Talmage of Boston, Heidi Tibbetts of Sidney, Brian Tibbetts of Sidney and Courtland Talmage of Kingfield.

He was predeceased by his sister, Christine.