Bion Roosevelt Estabrook Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, after a long illness. He was born 9 Aug 1928 in Falmouth, Maine the 4th of 10 children born to Bion, Sr. and Arlene N. (Drew). He was a descendant of the Estabrook family of Aroostook Co., Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, as well as a Mayflower descendant. He graduated from Bowdoinham High School. Besides working on the family farm and lumberjacking, Bion unloaded boxcars at a fertilizer factory for 40¢/hr and picked 80 barrels of potatoes/day for $16. In 1947, he joined the Army Air Corp, serving in Korea as a radio operator attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He married Beatrice Minnie Scott on Christmas Day in 1951. They were to celebrating their 65th anniversary this year. He was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration installing and repairing radar installations and control tower equipment. He and Beatrice lived throughout the US and abroad including Maine, Montana, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Viet Nam, Iran and Oman. He traveled to many places in Europe and the Mediterranean. He retired in 1983 as Chief, Civil Aviation Assistance Group, Muscat, Oman. He was a registered Professional Engineer. After his retirement, they settled in Derry, New Hampshire. He was a HAM radio operator (N1MWK). He volunteered on wildlife conservation projects with New Hampshire Fish and Game including over 15 years on their “Let’s Go Fishing” Program and with the Salmon Restoration Program for National Fisheries. He was a member of the Chester, NH Rod & Gun Club and was a member of American Legion Post 9 in Derry. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing and camping with his family and friends. He had a great talent as a handy-man, from plumber, electrician and carpenter to car repairman.
He is survived by his wife Beatrice and daughter Barbara Estabrook of Derry, son Ed Estabrook of Pine, Colorado and son Boyd Estabrook (wife Karen) of East Hampstead, NH. He was predeceased by son Kenneth Estabrook in 2014. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Kait Estabrook, Lauren Estabrook, and Brien Estabrook-Gray, as well as his brothers Keith, Vaughn and Foster and sister Marilyn Frost, as well as many nieces and nephews. Donations in his memory can be sent to the Disabled American Veterans at the Manchester VA.
There are no services at this time. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry. The Peabody Funeral Home & Crematorium is assisting the family with arrangements.