Obit: James Milton Attridge b.1911 Pepperell, MA
YORK, Maine - James Milton Attridge, 93, of 5 Sparhawk Lane in Kittery Point, and Hemlock Street in York, died Tuesday, July 12, 2005, at the home of his son at 12 Hemlock St., York.
He was born in Pepperell, Mass., on Dec. 19, 1911, the son of James E. and Irene (Tarbell) Attridge. He was a 1934 graduate of the University of Maine, receiving a degree in forestry.
He began his career in forestry with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Missouri at the nursery service. In 1946 he became the first forester hired by the New England Forestry Foundation and remained their 30 years until his retirement in 1976.
He had formerly lived in Antrim, N.H., for many years and operated a Christmas tree farm and managed a sugar tree orchard. In 1988 he moved to Kittery Point. He continued his love of growing Christmas trees in 1993 when he planted 10,000 trees on Cider Hill in York, which he continued to prune and care for each year.
He had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Antrim, N.H., and served as a trustee. He was also a member of the Lions Club and a former Boy Scout leader. He served on the board of the Antrim Water Commission and the beach committee of Gregg Lake in Antrim.
He was predeceased by his wife, Florence (Moore) Attridge, who died in 1997.
Survivors include a daughter, Patricia E. Holder and her husband, William, of York; three sons, Lawrence P. Attridge of Jaffrey, N.H., J. Dale Attridge of York, and Bruce E. Attridge and his wife, Renee, of Kittery; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Hope Attridge of Aurora, Colo., and Evelyn Colbeth of Harrington.
At the age of 85, Milton bought his first motorcycle, rode it once and said, "It’s not for me," and sold it. At the age of 90 he became a supporter of Patient Advocates for Advanced Cancer Treatments and performed a skydive at Skydive New England to promote awareness.
Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2005, with a funeral service at 5:30 p.m., at the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Road, York, Maine. Interment will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Pepperell Cemetery, Pepperell, Mass. Memorial donations may be made to the New England Forestry Foundation, P.O. Box 1346, Littleton, MA 01460.