Stanford Vokes Obituary (1931 - 2009)

Chelsea -- Stanford Russell Vokes, 78, passed away with his family by his side on September 3, 2009, at MaineGeneral Hospital, Augusta, Maine. Stan was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 23, 1931, the son of Joseph R. and Mabel C. Vokes. He attended Michigan schools and graduated from Lawrence Technical Institute.Joining the United States Coast Guard, he served his country patrolling the coast of New England, based in Rockland, Maine. On January 9, 1954, he married Dorothy Anna Wotton of Rockland, and they moved to Detroit, Michigan where Stan began his career as an architectural engineer for General Motors. In 1969, they returned to Maine where he worked for Bunker and Savage Architects and Contractors Group and Sears' commercial contracting division.He enjoyed woodworking, snowmobiling, boating, collecting coins and stamps, traveling to Florida during the winter months, and his beloved game of golf, which he referred to as the 'game you love to hate, and then the next day you want to go out and play again.'Stan is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy; son Bruce Vokes and his wife Ann of Poughkeepsie, NY; daughter Pamela (Vokes) Johnston and her husband Mark of Richmond, ME; brother- and sister-in-laws Walter (Bub) and Patricia Wotton of Rockland, ME; grandchildren Eric Vokes of Poughkeepsie, NY, Chad Johnston and his wife Samantha of Richmond, ME, and Sarah Johnston and her husband Andrew Munzing of Winthrop; great grandchildren Benjamin and Jeremy Johnston of Richmond, ME; and many Michigan cousins..Visiting hours will be at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, Maine on Thursday September 10, 2009 from 7 to 9pm., with the Committal service with military honors on Friday September 11, 2009 at the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta, Maine at 2 pm. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care for their loving and compassionate care they provided to Stan, and request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the cancer center at 361 Old Belgrade Road, Augusta, Maine, 04330.