James Bruce Thaxter

Friday, January 29, 2010

TOWNSEND: James Bruce Thaxter, 76, of North End Road, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, at Health Alliance – Leominster Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara C. (Coy) Thaxter; two sons, 1st Sgt. James B. Thaxter Jr. stationed with the United States Army in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Charles W. Thaxter of Pepperell; three daughters, Jean E. Thaxter-Mehlhorn of Nobleboro, Maine, Susan D. Yanovitch of Natick, and Sarah A. Vannozzi of Plymouth; a brother, Maynard “Ross” Thaxter of Arlington, Va.; two sisters, Patricia C. Thaxter of Fitchburg, and Gwendolyn Smallwood of Oxford, Maine. He also leaves 13 grandchildren.

Mr. Thaxter was born in Mexico, Maine, Aug. 15, 1933, a son of Maynard and Esther (Murch) Thaxter and had resided in Townsend for nearly 50 years.

He grew up in Orono, Maine, and was a graduate of Orono High School. He continued his education at the University of Maine-Orono, where he received his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics. He was, and continued to be, a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Societies and a lifetime member of the University of Maine Alumni Association.

Throughout his career Mr. Thaxter worked as a physicist. Most recently he worked in research for the United States Air Force at Hanscom Field in Bedford. Before that he worked at the Sperry Research Center of Sperry Rand Corp. in Sudbury and Lincoln Laboratories in Lexington.

Following his retirement in 1993, Mr. Thaxter, with his wife, owned and operated the Warren Barrel Co. based in Warren, Maine.

Services will be held at a later date. There are no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Esther Thaxter Scholarship Fund, University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469.

The T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, 250 Main Street, Townsend Center, is assisting the family with arrangements. Please see www.anderson funeral.com for additional information.