STANDISH- Eugene Leon Irish, 91, of Standish, ME, passed away peacefully in
his sleep very early Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 at the Gorham House in the rehab unit. Born April 30, 1927, he was the second son of Ernest A. Irish & Leona
M. (Paquette) Irish.
He graduated from Standish High school in 1944. Served in the Navy from June 12, 1945 to Aug. 24, 1946 and again from April 24, 1951 – July 25, 1952.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Radio School in 1947. He got his Radiotelephone First
Class License and then his Radiotelegraph Second Class License. Also, a General Class Radio
Amateur License.
He married Betty Ann Frances Alley on May 30, 1947. He worked for the W-I-D-E Radio Station in
Biddeford from 1948-1951, then for Radio Service Lab Portland; WJOR Radio and WABI Radio
in Bangor; WCSH TV in Portland from 1954-1957; New England Telephone and Telegraph Company
in Portland from June 1956 - March 1988. In 1983, NETCO became NYNEX and Gene became
supervisor in Lewiston until retiring on March 31, 1988.
Gene served on the MSAD #6 school board from 1971-1981. He was the Standish Town Council
Chairman from 1988-1991.
He was a member of the Standish Masonic Lodge -Blue Lodge. He joined the Royal Arch Chapter
in Portland and he was High Priest in Mt. Sinai-Greenleaf.
Gene is predeceased by his parents and brother Calvin, and his wife of 70 years, Betty Ann
F. (Alley) Irish. They are survived by their 5 children, 3 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.
Children- David E. & wife Nancy (Willey) Irish, Jean P. Irish, PhD & husband Robert Fuller, Sandra M. & husband Curtis B. Thurston, Daniel T. Irish and his girlfriend, Paula Diehm, and Judith A. &
husband Greg Rancourt. Grandchildren-Michael D. Irish, Karyn E.& husband Ron Brown,
and Christopher Rancourt. Great grandson- John C. Brown. His brother, Ernest Leopold Irish of
LaPlata, MD and his sister, Esther (Irish Edgecomb) Tierney of the Gorham House, Gorham, ME.
Also, many nieces and nephews.
Gene and his father-in-law, Lawrence W. Alley built a two-story house for his family. He always
said "A man's house is his castle". He took pride in providing for his family. In his younger days
he hunted and fished. He always raised a large vegetable garden for Betty Ann to cook, can and
freeze. He cut and split his own firewood and built two camps.
His hobbies were his herd of Hereford cattle, tree farming, growing vegetables and playing
cribbage with friends and family. He also loved to be outdoors.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23 from 9:30 – 11:30 AM, followed by a Masonic service at 11:30 AM and US Navy Honors at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple St. (Rt. 25)
Cornish. Burial will be at Standish Cemetery, Oak
Hill Rd. Standish. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com