Verne H. Bovie

Verne H. Bovie, 88, of Springvale, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the H.D. Goodall Hospital in Sanford. He was born in New Rochelle, New York on April 11, 1923 a son of the late Henry and Anne (Curry) Bovie. A graduate of New Rochelle High School, he then attended the University of Maine Orono for one year. WWII started and he enlisted in the Air Force in 1941.He was a pilot and flew a B-26. The plane in his squadron was shot shown over Germany on December 23, 1944 and he was a POW in prison camp (Stalag Luft IV) until 1945. After the war he was brought to a military camp in Plattsburg, NY to recuperate. It was there where he met his future wife who was a nurse at the hospital. On September 29, 1945 he married the former Evelyn Huer.Verne returned to school and received his BA from Wesleyan College, MA from Colgate College and PHD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1957. His teaching brought him to Nasson College where he was an English and American Literature Professor.His biggest joy in life was flying airplanes. He did fly his own plane and was an instructor for many years.He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Evelyn Bovie of Springvale, children, Deborah Esty and her husband, Jim, Verne Christopher Bovie and his wife, Susan, Martha Bovie and her husband, William Garceau, and Jennifer Bovie, his grandchildren, Justin, Megan, Renee, Ethan, Dylan, Eliza, Marissa, and Adam. He is also survived by his dog, Katie.Visiting hours will be on Saturday from 3 to 6PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. Burial will be at a later date at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in his memory to the Nasson College Little Theatre, 457 Main Street, Springvale, Maine 04083Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com