NEWBURGH - Ralph L. Bickford, 91, passed away November 5, 2018, at his home in Newburgh. He was born September 28, 1927, in Winterport, the son of Walter H. and Agnes (Towers) Bickford.

Ralph attended the one-room grade school at White's Corner, Winterport High School for grades eight and nine, and graduated from Monroe High School in the class of 1945. He was then drafted into WW II and sent to Darmstadt, Germany. After his discharge, he attended Husson College and received a BS degree in 1956 and an MS degree from UMO in1966. He received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Husson College in 1981.
Ralph taught Business Education at high schools in Limestone, Albion, Waterville, Westbrook, and Standish. He coached girls’ softball in Limestone and Junior High baseball in Albion. He left the classroom in March of 1970 to become State Consultant of Business and Distributive Education. He worked with business and marketing teachers throughout the state assisting them in designing better programs and encouraging the promotion of student activities. He resigned from the job he so very much enjoyed on February 28, 1985.

He was a former member and officer of granges in Winterport, Monroe, and Waldo County. He was Past Noble Grand of IOOF in Monroe; a long-time member of the Waterville Lodge #33 AF&AM; an affiliated member of Archon Lodge #75, Dixmont, and a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Augusta. Ralph took an active role as an officer of the Richard Simpson American Legion Post #201 in Dixmont as that town prepared for the dedication of the Veterans Memorial Park in 2007. He did it with pride in honor of his grandfather, Lorenzo Bickford, a Civil War Veteran. Ralph was an active member in several local, state and regional associations, serving as President of the New England Business Educators Association in 1977. He was actively involved in many of the activities vital to the Senior Citizens at the Muskie Center while living in Waterville. He was a former member of the Pleasant Street Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher and Financial Secretary. He is a member of Monroe Community Church, serving as a Deacon and a member of the Trustees.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by sisters, Alice Bickford, Elnora Kingsbury, and Ava Weaver; and his first wife, Marion. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sons, Robert Bickford, Scott Clements (Donna Hasey), Mark Clements (Debbi) and daughter Brenda Farnham (John); Eric, Josette, Rochelle and Renee Roberts who have been like family for many years; “other sister”Olive Couturier; four grand-children and one great granddaughter. “Uncle Ralph” loved his many nieces and nephews including those from his previous marriage and those kin to his.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Davita Dialysis and the VNA nurses for their loving care and support these last few years and to Dr. Daniel Gott.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 3-5 p.m., Saturday, November 10, 2018, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden, where a Masonic memorial service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m., by the officers and members of the Archon Lodge #75 AF & AM of Dixmont. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, November 11, 2018, at the Brooks Congregational Church UCC, 22 Veterans Hwy, Brooks, with Rev. Russell Arnold, officiating. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Ralph in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the New Furnace Fund, Monroe Community Church, P.O. Box 805, Monroe ME, 04951 or the Clara Swan Scholarship, c/o Husson University, 1 College Circle, Bangor, ME 04401-2929. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com