Laurence E. Capen ’54

OLD TOWN – Laurence (Larry) E. Capen, son of Dorothy Fayle Capen and Percy Capen, was born on December 4, 1932 and died on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Larry graduated from Old Town High School, Maine, in 1951. He continued his education at Maine Maritime Academy, class of 1954. Prior to applying for active duty in the U.S. Navy in 1956, Larry sailed as a licensed marine engineer in the U.S. Merchant Marine. His tours in the Navy included Engineer Officer, USS Aeolus ARC-3, Operations Officer, USS Chambers DER-391 and Security Officer, U.S. Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island. After six years of active duty, Larry continued to serve his country in the Naval Reserve with the Military Sea Transport Service in units in South Portland, Maine, and Richmond, Virginia. He retired after 20 years of service with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

After retiring from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995, he and Marguerite spent summers at their home on the coast in their native state of Maine and enjoyed many memorable visits from family and friends.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Jean L. Capen; son, David V. Capen; and sister, Marilyn Bradford. He is survived by his wife, Marguerite Littlefield Gonya Capen; daughters, Lauren Capen Baggerly, Brenda S. Capen and Diane C. Seaborn; stepdaughter, Martha M. Humler; sons-in law, J. Cary Seaborn and Herve J.L. Humler; and grandchildren, Kristen H. Baggerly, Daniel J. Baggerly, J. Harrison Seaborn, Carter L. Seaborn, Luke D. Humler and Ava L. Humler.

A memorial service will be held Friday, April 24, 2015, at 12 noon, at the Quantico Marine Base Chapel in Quantico, Va., to be followed by interment in the Quantico National Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to Annual Fund, Maine Maritime Academy, c/o Development Office, Pleasant St, Castine, ME 04420. Condolences at: www.woodyfuneralhomehuguenot.com

Published in BDN Maine on Jan. 10, 2015