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Wallace E Bragdon Jr

Date of Death: January 27, 2024

Date of Birth: October 20, 1928

Biography:

Wallace E. Bragdon Jr. (Wally)-95 - A veteran, retired postmaster, local icon, born on 10/20/1928 passed away on January 27, 2024 at Marshwood Nursing Home. He was born, raised and a lifelong resident of New Gloucester until this fall when he fell ill.

Wally was a graduate of New Gloucester High School in 1946. He proudly served during the Korean War in 1951-52 with the United States Army 43rd Division at the rank of Corporal. He married Doris “Dolly” Bryant Bragdon in 1968, and they enjoyed 43 years together until her death in 2011. He was also predeceased by an infant son, his parents Wallace Bragdon Sr and Eleanor Mott Bragdon, seven brothers and two sisters.

He worked for several years at Blue Rock industries in Topsham as a Plant Manager. More notably he became New Gloucester’s Postmaster in 1969. At that time, the Postmaster was elected. He served for over 21 years. He was known for going above and beyond to serve the people. Whether it was covering a mail route himself or delivering packages on Christmas Day to make sure families had them, the customer was always first. Twenty five years later he still had people reach out to ask questions about the mail system.

As a veteran Wally spent his life serving other veterans. He is one of the original members of the AMVETS (American Veterans) Post #6 in New Gloucester. He has held many different positions at both the local level and at the state organization level including Commander of both. Up until his illness, he remained active in the AMVETS. Up until covid he would make monthly visits to the Scarborough Veterans home to play bingo with the residents. To capture what Wally has done for the AMVETS and the veterans would be impossible. His dedication led to him being member of the year at the local level and for the whole state of Maine. 

Wally was also a member of the Cumberland Lodge 12 Masons for nearly 60 years and Kora Temple Shriners for 50 years. He has spent an untold number of hours volunteering at the Shrine Circus, Festival of Trees, and numerous other functions supporting the Shrine Hospitals for Children.

Among his other astounding community service, Wally was honored for his volunteer work as he put in hundreds of hours at the Good Shepherd and St. Mary’s food banks, alongside his wife Dolly. The weekly volunteering brought them to be well recognized and honored individuals for their service.

Wally also served his town in many ways over his lifetime. Noting a few, in 1971 he was appointed to oversee New Gloucester Bicentennial celebrations. Wally and two other gentlemen oversaw 12 committees to put on a huge town wide celebration. In 2014 he was a driving force in bringing the Veterans Monument to fruition. Among organizing , fundraising, and more he was a part of the unveiling ceremony where the monument is now located in Upper New Gloucester.

Wally was still driving until this fall. He was even recently recognized on the internet for his quick reactions that avoided a head-on collision with a large wrecker that was in his lane. The post on Facebook was viewed, shared, and liked by several thousand people.

For many years Wally was a member of the New Gloucester Congregational Church in New Gloucester and often volunteered at their bean suppers and fairs. He attended both East Auburn and Pathway Vineyard of Lewiston where he was a regular at the Senior Saints Gatherings.

Through Wally’s remarkable life, he made many friends around New England. Some that he never met in person. He enjoyed trips to the Oxford Casino and nightly phone calls with two dear friends. He spent many seasons at his camp at AMVETS Shores in Poland, traveling with the Shriners, or leading a bus full of friends on trips to multiple locations around the United States.

Wally achieved two milestones in recent years. In 2022 he went on Honor Flight to Washington DC. He was so very proud of this experience. He also had the 2021 New Gloucester Annual Report dedicated to him. An honor the same as citizen of the year, honoring him for his great works.

Even though Wally’s time in this life was temporary, He lived well enough, his legacy will last forever.

In lieu of flowers Wally would like donations made to Bragdon Memorial Scholarship Fund ℅ AMVETS Post #6 PO Box 301, New Gloucester, ME 04260 and/or Kora Shrine Building Fund 11 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, ME 04240. A burial will take place at a later date in New Gloucester.

Services will be held at the East Auburn Baptist Church, 560 Park Avenue, Auburn on Saturday February 3, 2024. Visitation will be held at 11am with a service to follow at noon.