1920 – 2014

LITCHFIELD — Lloyd R. Skelton, 93, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at his home in Litchfield.

He was born in Bowdoin on July 20, 1920, the son of Willis and Mona (Taylor) Skelton; he was one of 10 children. He attended Bowdoin and Bowdoinham schools, graduating from Coombs High School in Bowdoinham in 1939. He served in World War II in the U.S. Army, 67th Coast Artillery Battalion, seeing duty in central Europe and north Africa. After being discharged, he married a hometown girl, J. Louisa Given, on June 22, 1947.

Lloyd grew up on a dairy farm and built upon this experience his whole life. He was an avid gardener, raising a variety of crops; he was particularly famous for his strawberries. He also raised livestock and chickens. Off the farm, he worked at a number of places. His primary employer was the U.S. Postal Service, for which he worked for 30 years.

Lloyd was a gifted storyteller, often recounting experiences involving people and events from farm life, postal work (in particular, mud season), tractors, fishing, snowmobiling and family. He was a very active participant in local minstrel shows and was involved for a number of years with 4-H. He was a member of the Masons.

In addition to his wife of 66 years, Lloyd is survived by his children, Eleanor Swain and her husband, Dwight, of Brunswick, Frank Skelton and his wife, Nancy, of Houston, Texas, Glenice Skelton and her partner, Hank Aho, of Washington, Helen Sargent and her husband, Nelson, of Litchfield and Irene Tefft and her husband, Tim, of Lisbon Falls. He is also survived by sisters, Pearl Robers of Lisbon Falls, Carmalene Lancaster of Bowdoinham, Clarinda Gray of Brunswick, Eunice Cirer of Fort Myers, Fla., and Shirley Bickford of North Fort Myers, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Grace Skelton, of Bowdoin; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by brothers, Thurman, Forrest and Leon; and a sister, Alma O’Neil.

Memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.