Dwyer, Phillip F., 84, September 28, 2007. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton. Interment to be held in the Evergreen Cemetery.
HOULTON – Philip Fred Dwyer 84, went to be with the Lord Sept. 28, 2007 at a local hospital surrounded by his extended family. He was born Nov. 23, 1922 at Houlton, the son of Fred and Abby (Weeks) Dwyer and grew up on his grandparents’ farm in Bancroft.
Philip graduated from Ricker Classical Institute and Ricker College before heading off to serve his Country in the South Pacific in World War II. He joined the US Navy in December, 1943 and was rated as a Pharmacist Mate First Class. He was attached to the 6th Marine Division at Guadal Canal as a medical corpsman and his unit landed at Okinawa on April 1, 1945. Phil was wounded in action in May, 1945 and was transferred to the Naval Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. By August, he returned to active duty, returned stateside and was discharged in April, 1946 with a Bronze Star for heroism, Presidential Unit Citation and the Purple Heart.
Phil attended and graduated from Tufts Dental School in 1950 and married the love of his life, Alice Walsh on August 6, 1950. They raised two sons Philip Jr. and James.
Dr. Dwyer loved Dentistry and practiced in the town of Houlton for 50 years, turning his practice over to the loving hands of Dr. Peter Stanley in 2000. Dr. Dwyer served as President of the Maine Dental Association, was a member of the Pierre Fauchaud Academy, an international honorary dental organization, received a Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry, and was a fellow in the American College of Dentists.
Dr. Dwyer was also a very active member of the Military Street Baptist Church, serving many times on the Board of Deacons, as church president, a Deacon Emeritus and taught his adult Sunday School class until just before his death.
Phil loved to be outdoors hunting, fishing, boating and teaching all of us the wonders of nature. He and his wife and boys built their camp on East Grand Lake from the ground up and enjoyed it immensely. He never stopped thinking about new and better ways to build, fix or complete any project.
Phil is survived by his wife and partner for 57 years Alice, his son Jim Dwyer and his wife Rosalie of Presque Isle, grandchildren Marc Dwyer of Presque Isle, Erin Hoffses and her husband John of Mapleton, Peter and Sarah Stanley, their daugthers Jenna and Alex of Houlton; sisters Virginia Hempstead of Chillicothe, OH, Mary Erickson of Salem, OR; a brother Alton 'Bud' Dwyer and his wife Charlene of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his son Philip Jr. and his sister Geraldine Smart.
Friends called at the Dunn Funeral Home, Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Military Street Baptist Church, Wednesday 11:00 a.m. with Revs. Randall Burns and Gary Johnson officiating. Interment with Military Honors will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Dr. Dwyer’s memory to the Military Street Baptist Church, c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton, 04730.
