TOPSHAM — Harold W. “Hal” Buck died on Feb. 23 in Topsham.

Buck was born on a farm in Mercer on June 28, 1930, the son of Eli and Alta Buck. He grew up on the lake in Greenville and moved to Millinocket at age 12. He loved Mt. Katahdin and climbed it multiple times. He was proud to be both an Eagle Scout and a Registered Maine Guide.

Buck graduated from Stearns High School in Millinocket and University of Maine with a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics and was a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society, as well as Lambda Chi Alpha.

After graduation he went to work at Oxford Paper Company in Rumford, where he worked in research and development for product development. He was later promoted to coated specialties manager and then technical director. He moved to Lowville, N.Y., in 1980 to become operations manager at Boise Cascade, and then became vice president of Pajco.

Buck married Margaret “Midge” Ruff in 1953 and they raised four children in Rumford. He volunteered in the community as a selectman and on the building committee for the high school. He was very active with the Chisholm Ski club and Black Mountain ski area. He loved the outdoors, especially boating, and raced white water canoes and sailed on both the coast of Maine and in the Caribbean on several trips with friends and family. Twice a year for several decades he made hunting and fishing trips with his friends, The Bowmantown Irregulars, to their camp in Bowmantown.

The Bucks retired to the coast of Maine and enjoyed their time living on the water in Cundy’s Harbor. He was a skilled woodworker and builder and enjoyed spending time in his shop and doing household repairs when he was not boating, skiing, hunting, or fishing.

Buck was predeceased by his parents; his son, Kenneth Buck in 1980; and grandson, Joe Buck in 1998. He is survived by his wife, Midge, of Topsham; daughters Cindy and her husband, Don Marsh, of Woolwich, Linda and her husband, John Easter, of Candia, N.H.; son Steve and his wife, Denise, of Merrimack, N.H.; his sister, Nancy, and her husband, Allan Peck, of Wilbraham, Mass.; his brother, John, and his wife, BobbyJean, of Aurora, Colo.; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.

Buck’s family would like to thank the staff at the Governor King unit at the Highlands in Topsham for the loving care he received. A memorial service will be held at a later date and his ashes will be spread in Bowmantown.

In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to support the neurodegenerative research of Susan Ackerman, Ph.D, at The Jackson Laboratory, P.O. Box 254, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.

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