BREWER – Richard E. Castner, 81, died Dec. 26, 2012, at a Bangor health care facility. He was born April 14, 1931, in Bangor, son of Earl Linwood and Gladys Ellen (Reed) Castner.Richard graduated from Bangor High School, class of 1949 and from the Maine Maritime Academy in 1952. During his high school days, he always looked forward to fishing trips with his father on Moosehead Lake. Dick often spoke of his various after school jobs which included ushering at the local theaters, working for a dry cleaning company, warehouse work and selling classified ads at the Bangor Daily News. Upon graduation from Maine Maritime Academy, he was employed as a deck officer on merchant ships carrying military and general cargo to Europe and the Far East. This activity was curtailed as a result of orders to active duty in the U.S. Navy. Dick served as second division officer and gunnery officer on the USS Newman K. Perry DDR 883. Upon release from active duty, he remained active in several reserve units for 24 years. His civilian employment was with New England Telephone Co., now Verizon, as a network design engineer for 32 years. His home office was located in Bangor, but he often traveled the state and into New Hampshire to fulfill his employment in many assigned capacities. Dick was a member of Military Officers Association of America, both national and local chapters. He was a 50-year member of Rising Virtue Lodge No. 10 AF & AM of Bangor, and Anah Shriners. He held a life membership at Bangor-Brewer Shrine Club and marched with the Provost Guard Unit. During his retirement years, Dick enjoyed spending summers at his cottage on Phillips Lake and trying to figure out a way to find the best vacation place in Florida.

Dick was predeceased by his mother, father; and two sisters, Gloria Evans and Shirley Kenoyer. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Margaret (Lambert) Castner of Brewer; one daughter, Cheryl (Reed) Castner of Cape Elizabeth; and nieces and nephews in various areas of the country.

At Dick’s request services will be private. Interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor. A service of Brookings-Smith Brewer Chapel. Condolences to the family may be expressed at

www.BrookingsSmith.com.

Published in BDN Maine on December 29, 2012