Donald Newhall

Donald Richard “Dick” Newhall, 92, of Bangor, passed away peacefully on Saturday May 4th in Bangor hospital surrounded by some of his loving family.

Born September 7, 1931 to George Edward Newhall and Thelma Arlene (Berry) Newhall in Lynn, MA. He resided in Lynn until his stepfather, Theodore “Ted” Johns, enlisted in the military and was stationed at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor during World War II.

After Dick graduated from Bangor High School in 1949, he enlisted in the US Navy in October 1950 and was honorable discharged in August 1954 after serving in the Korean War.

The year before he enlisted, he attended a basketball game when he caught sight of Adah Goodine, a beautiful and sassy high school senior, and their love story began. After a year of courting, they married when he was on a 48-hour leave from the Navy on December 23, 1950 in Bangor. They had two daughters, Susan Lynn and Patricia “Penny” Eileen.

Dick spent most of his career at Westinghouse/General Electric as a Retail Sales Manager. His area covered all of Maine except for Cumberland and York County. One of Dick’s proudest accomplishments was when he was the US Salesman of the Year in 1983. The prize entailed a trip to Scottsdale, AZ to pick up his new car, an Oldsmobile. Dick was also part owner of Dunnett’s Appliances before his career shift to GE.

Traveling was something both Dick and Adah enjoyed doing with their family and dear friends, Charlie and Anne Sias of Bangor. Not wanting one couple to outdo another, they would agree on a budget before their trips. On beach vacations, they would bring home a small amount of sand to keep in a glass jar with the location and date as a memento. They often went on camping trips to Canada and Lily State Park in Greenville often playing golf at Mt Kineo.

Dick was an active and social man. You could always count on Dick playing golf with his brothers, as it “never rained” on the golf course, just “heavy dew.” At home, golf tournaments were often on the television, but don’t you dare change the channel, as he needed to watch or hear it all unless he was “resting his eyes.” He also enjoyed hunting and found great success in Levant.

A proud and loyal UMaine men’s hockey fan, Dick and Adah could be found in their season ticket seats or watching the game at home. He, Adah and Penny would often attend the Frozen Four each year regardless of where it was or who was playing, but always hoping the Black Bears would be there.
He was an active member of the Saturday Nighters and was a member at All Souls Congregation Church in Bangor. At home, a healthy competition of cribbage was played nightly with Adah and was open to anyone that was up for a challenge. In his retirement years, he enjoyed staying active by line dancing participating up to a couple times a week for over two decades.

An avid reader and love of history, especially the Civil War. His library mostly consisted of Civil War nonfiction books.

Dick would recount the times he would be pulled over by the police for speeding. At a time before speed detectors, the weight from the sales catalogs in his trunk gave the illusion he was speeding. He would eat lunch next door at Sing’s and taught his daughters to eat with the utensils the culture used when eating their food. When his appliances would no longer work, he ensured it was a GE appliance as his replacement he purchased from Dunnett’s.

Dick is survived by his daughters Susan Wellman and Penny Bush of Bangor; brother George and wife Connie Newhall of Bangor; brother-in-law Lyndell Matot and wife Polly of Zephyrhills, FL; grandchildren Sarah Wellman and her partner Jeff Hichborn of Hudson; Breanna Ashton and her partner William Wolfe of Bangor; Lindsay Wellman and fiancé Leon Folsom of Chesapeake, VA; Charles Bush of Bangor; great granddaughters Brooklyn Hichborn of Hudson; Nevena Ashton of Bangor; Audrey & Emily Folsom of Chesapeake, VA. Nieces and nephews Arthur Newhall of Falmouth, MA; Julia Newhall of Worchester, MA; Ellen Newhall of Yarmouth; Laine Johns Hill of Carmel. Dick is predeceased by his loving wife Adah, parents George, Thelma and Ted Sr, and brother Ted Johns Jr.

A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. Relatives and friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor immediately follow the service. Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor.

Dick donated to various charities including Maine Public Broadcasting, numerous cancer and veteran charities, Macular Degeneration, Masons, and American Legion to name a few. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

The family would like to express a special thank you to Laine Johns Hill and Debbie Smith.