RUMFORD — Ernest Vernon Bent, age 73, of Hancock Street in Rumford, passed away on Saturday, June 2, at Rumford Hospital after a long and courageous battle with COPD and dementia.

Ernest was born March 23, 1945, in Chelsea, Mass., the son of Albert and Alice (Hamilton) Bent.

He attended Chelsea schools.

Ernest entered the Army, proudly serving in Korea and Vietnam.

He came to Rumford in 1978, where he met and married Sheila Arsenault on Sept. 29, 1979.

Ernie worked at Bass Shoe in Rumford and Wilton, and as a boiler operator in several mills.

He was a volunteer driver for Community Concepts for eight years, a job he loved and where he met many friends. He could always be seen at Dunkin’ Donuts reading.

Ernie was a simple, quiet, gentle man who was loved by his family and will be remembered for his famous fudge that was at all gatherings.

Surviving are his wife, Sheila (Arsenault) Bent, of Rumford; stepson, David Hamner; three brothers, Edward Bent and companion, Gloria Pepin, Russell Bent and wife, Mary, and Albert Bent and wife, Arlene; sisters Elaine Robbins, Carol Hathaway and husband, Gary, and Helen DeAngelos; three great-grandchildren, Nikata Caron, and Alan and Alicia Hamner; several nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Sharon Madore, and husband, Mike, Suzanne Vigor and husband Torrey and Sandra Gallant.

He was predeceased by his parents, and sisters Edith Toomey, Alice Lowell and Bertha Bent.

www.sgthibaultfuneralhome.com.