Col. Byron Herbert Meader, Jr. 96 years old.

Byron was born in Ellsworth, Maine on Monday, May 19, 1919 and passed away Monday October 12, 2015 at Madison Memorial Hospital, Rexburg, Idaho. He was the second son of Byron Herbert Meader, Sr. and the former Margaret Elizabeth Lunney Meader. He started his golf career in 1929, at the age of ten years, caddying in Northeast Harbor, Maine. He made two holes in one, the last one when he was 93 years old. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1937 and attended Washington State Normal School, a predecessor of the University of Maine at Machias.

He joined the Army on December 2nd 1942 spending a year in Guadalcanal before being sent to Germany in 1944 to the “Battle of the Bulge.” His 69th Division linked up with the Russians at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945. He returned to Maine in December 1945; joined the Maine National Guard, and continued his education. Byron earned his B.S. in Education from the University of Maine in 1950 and his Master of Education degree in 1952.

He married the former Eleanor Ramsdell in August 1946; they had four children and later divorced. He married the former Mary Rita “Molly” Lindsay in 1969 and they retired to Sun City, Arizona, where Molly died in 1990. On Leap Year Day 1992 he married the former Prudence Pease. They traveled in their camper to such places as Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Maine and beyond. They both enjoyed Family History and spent hours searching for relatives, finding out they were 6th cousins! They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 15, 2000 and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on July 27, 2001. Byron often said joining the Church was one of the best decisions he ever made. Byron taught the 16-17 year olds in Sunday school in 2010. He and Prudence were called this summer to teach the 14-15 year olds in the Mill Hollow 1st Ward, Rexburg.

They split their time between Rexburg, Idaho and Sun City, Arizona, enjoying the best of two worlds.

He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Prudence; three daughters, Margaret Davison (Edwin) of Florida; Judith Ingram of Florida and Deborah Cloutier (Paul) of Maine, and a stepson, Seth Little of Colorado; five grandchildren: Kevin MacDonald (Kathie) Tolland, CT; Korie Caspersen Schleifer (Dion) Pace, FL; Kyle (Tara) Caspersen, Fairbanks, AK and Jordon and Gavin Cloutier of Maine; seven step-grandchildren and six great grandchildren; sisters in law Grace Meader of Maine; Meredith Ulery of New Hampshire; Claire Malpass, Florida; Betty Gaynor, New York, and brothers in law Jeff Pease of Colorado and Barney Dussault of New York. He was predeceased by his parents, sisters, Emily Meader and Persis Meader Kimball, brother Everett Meader, son Byron Herbert Meader III and stepson, Jason Little Griffin.

Memorial Service Monday, 10:00 a.m. November 16th 2015, Sun City Ward, 13014 N. 108th Avenue, Sun City, AZ. Visiting 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Gifts in celebration of Byron may be made to the Colonel Byron H. Meader Scholarship Fund, payable to the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792, The VFW or a charity of your choice.