Clifton Ernest Wood

ORONO - Clifton E. Wood, age 102, died on February 5, 2022, three days before his 103rd birthday, from natural causes at his cottage in Dirigo Pines, Orono. He was born February 8, 1919, in Lewiston, the son of Ernest O. and Grace (Haenssler) Wood.

Clif graduated from Lewiston High School in 1937 and also graduated from The Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also completed courses at Eastern Washington College of Education and Air Command and Staff School.

He was predeceased by his beloved and loving wife, Sylvia after 69 years of marriage. They were inseparable and were seldom seen without the other. They will once again be together. Clifton retired as a Colonel from the Air Force, and in 1976, after 25 years with the Maine Air National Guard, he received an honorary appointment as a Brigadier General. Overall, he had 35 years of military service. While in the ANG he was the Wing Executive Officer and Base Commander. He served for 27 months on active duty in WWII and the Korean Conflict. In WWII he was stationed outside of London, England as a Charter Member of 389th Bomb Group, a B24 group that participated in missions throughout Europe, Middle East, and Africa. After two and half years, Clif returned home. His awards and medals included the Presidential Unit Citation, the European - African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

Following his military service, he was appointed by the late Governor, James Longley to a Maine Board of Arbitration & Conciliation where he served for four years as Chairman of a three-member group which covered the Penobscot area. He was a 70-year member of the Masonic Organization at St. Andrew's Lodge No. 83 A. F. & M. of Bangor.

He and his wife lived in Brewer for 55 years before moving to Orono in 2007. During the several years when Clif and Sylvia wintered in South Carolina, they both got very involved with intricate cross stitching. There was one cross-stich piece that Clif considered the masterpiece of all his artwork. It is called "Rainbow Row" and is of an actual row of spectacular houses in Charleston with a multitude of different colors.

After his wife, Sylvia, died in 2012, Clif, with the encouragement of his daughter Pat, became an amazing artist starting at the age of 93 with introductory drawing but soon graduated to ink and pastels and finally to acrylic painting. He became quite prolific and completed many landscapes even after the age of 100.

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Sylvia (Linscott) Wood; brothers, Donald Wood, James Wood, and sister, Frances (Wood) Briddon. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia and her husband, David Farley, of Chocorua, New Hampshire. He is also survived by three grandsons, Jeffery Farley and his wife, Mary LaPointe Farley, of South Portland, and children, Nicholas, Teresa and Margaret; Jason Farley and his wife, Lori Beausoleil Farley, of Cumberland, Rhode Island; and children, Alexandra and Samantha; and Jared Farley and his wife, Amanda Bisson Farley, of Pascoag, Rhode Island, and children, Keighan and Wesley. Clif also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews. The family would like to say a special thank you to Donna Gormley and her wonderful and compassionate staff at Loving Touch In-Home Care who have helped him throughout the past ten years.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-7 p.m., Friday, February 11, 2022, at Brookings-Smith Brewer Chapel, 55 South Main St., Brewer. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 12, 2022, at East Orrington Congregational Church, 38 Johnson Mill Rd., Orrington. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the church immediately following the service. Those wishing to attend the funeral service remotely may do so by visiting BrookingsSmith.com.