Gabriel Oliver Dumont

Gabriel Oliver Dumont, 94, of Venice, FL and Cumberland, ME died peacefully on February 13, 2013 at Luke Haven at Village on the Isle. He was born on Nov. 30, 1918 in Skowhegan, ME, the son of Eugene Febronie Gagne Dumont. Gabriel attended Skowhegan High School and graduated from Colby College in Waterville, ME, class of 1940. During WW II, Gabriel served in the Army Air Corps as a bombardier attached to the 434th Squadron, 12th Bomb Group. He flew 44 missions before enemy anti-aircraft fire claimed the aircraft. For his bravery he was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters. He returned to Skowhegan following his discharge in 1945 and, on June 2, 1947, he married Shirley Marie Turcotte at Notre Dame de Lourdes in Skowhegan, and began raising a family. Gabriel's career after the war included 2 years with the VA before purchasing a store, Gabe's Market, in Skowhegan. Five years later he was appointed Postmaster of Skowhegan, a post he held from 1954 until 1970. From 1971 until 1982 he had various administrative positions with the U.S. Postal Service, working in Philadelphia, PA and then Portland, ME. Gabriel retired in December, 1982, and spent his time first in Port Charlotte and later Venice, FL and Cumberland, ME. Gabriel loved fishing, particularly landlocked salmon on Maine lakes. He also loved attending the games of his grandchildren, who were the light of his life, and he the light of theirs. Gabriel was predeceased by his wife Shirley in 2011, and by his siblings Eugene, Leon, and Florence. He is survived by his daughters Barbara Bene and her husband H. Michael of Venice, FL and Martha Estelle Dumont of New York City, son Gabriel O. Dumont, Jr. and his wife Christine of Boston, MA, brother G. Paul Dumont of Milford, ME, sister Cecile Beaulieu of Hinckley, ME, and grandchildren John Gabriel Dillman and his wife Jessica, Sophie Estelle Dillman, and Thomas Adrian Dillman. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the staffs of The Windsor of Venice and Luke Haven for their care and devotion, and to TideWell Hospice for their support. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Epiphany Cathedral, 350 West Tampa Avenue in Venice at 10:30am on Thursday, February 21st. Burial will take place at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Colby College, 4335 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME, 04901, or TideWell Hospice, Inc., 220 Wexford Blvd., Venice, FL, 34293. Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel has been selected to care for arrangements. Local arrangements by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, Maine 04101Online condolences may be expressed below.