1926 – 2015

SOUTH PARIS — Ernest Normand Luneau, 88, of Albany left this earth on Thursday, May 7, at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

He was born on Oct. 31, 1926, in Berlin, N.H., a son of Henry and Irene Bouchard. His mother died when he was three months old, leaving his father with five small children. He was brought up and much loved by friends of the Bouchards, Henry and Fabiola Luneau, who later adopted him. He excelled in football, hockey and baseball during his years in Catholic schools.

He proudly served his country in World War II as a Marine in Nagasaki, Japan. In 1948, he married Ethelyn Colby and had three children, Stephanie, Normand and Jonathan. He went on to school to become an automatic transmission specialist and later started his own business, Ernie’s Cities Service in South Paris.

Ernie was much loved by his family and numerous friends for his kind, sociable, positive nature, his big heart, thinking of others before himself, his infectious laugh and impish grin. He loved to joke around and have fun. He was a hard worker and a hard player. Besides being a great dancer and a great swimmer, his interests included camping, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, boating, NASCAR, racing at Oxford Plains, doing mechanical work on his vehicles (and everyone else’s), playing pool and watching old westerns, especially John Wayne.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Virginia; daughter, Stephanie Allen (Peter); sons, Normand Luneau (Sandy) and Jonathan Luneau; stepchildren, Bonnie, Brenda (Roger), Marla (Wayne), Ernie (Judy) and Joel (Beverly); sisters, Terry Barber, and Irene Wasserbeck (Bill); sister-in-law, Lorraine Bouchard; brothers, Normand Bouchard (Judi), and Larry Bouchard (Pat); grandchildren, Scott Smith (Sonia), Vanessa Smith (Mike), Shane Smith (Sarah), Matthew Luneau (Stephanie), Jennifer Couch (Brian), Kara Archer (Tim), Cassie Luneau, Nickolas Luneau and Aaron Luneau; great grandchildren, Courtney, Jacob, Chloe, Caroline, Abigail, Sydni, Stephen, Liam, Blake, Jesse, Moriah, Zachary, Nathaniel and Robert; many stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, including those closest to him, Ronnie Bouchard (Paula), JoAnn Bergeron (Berge) and Kenny Bouchard.

He was predeceased by his parents; his grandson, Jesse Luneau; his sisters, Delores and Jeannette; his brothers, Robert, Jules, Roland and Roger; and his beloved German shepherd, King.

Thank you for your loving care all of our lives.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.