Hilliard Boothby

Hilliard (Slim) Melburn Boothby, 86, of Sanford died peacefully in his sleep on March 16, 2007 after a long brave fight against cancer. He was born on July 29, 1920 in Parsonsfield, Maine. He was one of five children of Christine (Hill) Boothby and Jesse Boothby. He attended Limerick schools up until his senior year in High school. He graduated from Parsonsfield Seminary in 1938. He was actively involved in all sports during his high school years, and was known as a top notch 1st baseman in the region.After graduation he worked in local lumberyards until enlisting in the U.S. Navy in Oct. of 1942. After basic training in Newport R.I., he attended Diesel training classes at the University of Detroit. He graduated at the top of his class and was assigned as machinist first class on LST 343 out of Seattle, WA. During his service years he saw action in several South Pacific sites. His ship was used in the invasions of Guam, Guadalcanal, Iwa Jima, New Guinea, and several other sites. At Guadalcanal he fired so many rounds from his 40mm cannon that the barrel literally started to melt. Near the island of Rendova, while delivering mail, the Higgins boat he was in was sunk by an unexpected water spout. He was in the water for 13 hours before landing on a island of Talogi. He and three other survivors had to make their way to the other side of the island to find help, as the side they landed on was in Japanese hands. During his duties in the South Pacific, he was shot through the leg by a Japanese sniper and later was injured from shrapnel from a Kamakazie attack.On February 20th, 1942 he married Dorothea I. Bickford in a small ceremony held in Cornish, Maine. They lived entire 65 years of marriage in the Sanford/Springvale area. Slim worked for Walter Reeks Buick as a mechanic and later as the service manager for Wescott Ford. He and Tom Mackay Sr. owned two filling stations in Springvale for over 20 years.Slim was a member of the Springvale Masonic Lodge #190 AF & AM. He was a former assistant chief of the Springvale Fire Dept, a trustee and Sunday School teacher at the Free Baptist Church in Springvale, a member of the Sanford Country Club for many years. He was also an avid hunter and always enjoyed the outdoors.He is predeceased by a brother, E. Harry Boothby. He is survived by his wife, Dorothea Bickford Boothby of 65 years and one son, Robert Boothby and his wife, Kaye, a granddaughter, Lynn Boothby and great grandson, Jack Boothby Darling, two sisters, Barbara Price and Jesseill Newman of Jacksonville, FL, one brother, Dan Boothby of South Parsonsfield.The family would like to thank all the personnel of Beacon Hospice, The Mayflower, Harbor House in York, and the Newton Center in Sanford for the excellent care that Hilliard received while in their care.Visiting hours will be on Monday, March 19, from 6-8pm at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street in Springvale. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 12noon at the Pleasant Street Free Baptist Church in Springvale. Burial will take place later this spring at Riverside Cemetery in Springvale.In lieu of flowers contribution may be made in his memory to Beacon Hospice 54 Atlantic Place, South Portland, ME 04106 or the Pleasant Street Free Baptist Church, 46 Pleasant Street Springvale,ME 04083.To leave the family a message of condolence please use the "condolences" tab to the left.