Edwin Thomas Ackroyd

Edwin T. Ackroyd, 92, of Sanford, ME, died Friday, March 4, 2005 at the Newton Center in Sanford following a brief illness. Mr. Ackroyd was born on March 4, 1913 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He was the son of Ernest and Edna Clarkson Ackroyd. He lived in Sanford most of his life and was a member of the Sanford High School Class of 1930. He served in the U.S. Army at a radar outpost in Iceland during World War II. Following the war, he worked as a screen printer in the Sanford textile mills and then worked for local department stores for many years. Mr. Ackroyd was a man of strong faith. His religious values were very important to him and he displayed this through his life and his devotion to his church. He was an active member of the Sanford First Baptist Church were he served in various roles over the years including being a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. Mr. Ackroyd was a life-long member of Boy Scout Troop 317 in Sanford where he served as Scout Master, assistant Scout Master and troop committee member. He also enjoyed serving on the Sanford High School Class of 1930 reunion committee, especially in his retirement years. In his spare time, Mr. Ackroyd enjoyed tending to his garden. He was very dedicated to his family, friends and neighbors. He enjoyed visiting shut-ins and continued to do this up until he was 89. He will be remembered for his kind heart, great sense of humor, and all of the wonderful stories and memories that he liked to share. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Norma Hanscom Ackroyd, one daughter, Jolene Ackroyd, of Sanford; two sons, Glenn Ackroyd of Skowhegan, ME, and Paul Ackroyd of Groton, MA; a sister, Elizabeth Simonds of Sanford, ME; a brother, G. Wallace Ackroyd of Naples, Florida; two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours for Mr. Ackroyd will be held Monday, March 7, 2005 from 5 to 8 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street in Springvale, ME. A funeral service will be held at the Sanford First Baptist Church on Main Street in Sanford on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at 11:00 AM. Committal services will be held in the spring at Forest Grove Cemetery in North Lebanon, ME. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Sanford First Baptist Church Deacon's Fund, P.O. Box 250, Sanford, ME, 04073. To leave online condolences, please visit www.healdfuneral.com.