PORTLAND — Ernest Edward Fochler, Jr., 79, of Yarmouth died Feb. 17 after many months of declining health.  

On Dec. 12, 1931, he was born in New York, N.Y., the son of Mildred (Dobrens) and Ernest Edward Fochler. After the family moved to Falmouth, he was educated in Falmouth schools.  

During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Navy.

In 1960 he married Connie Chappell and they had five children together.

A hard worker who enjoyed working with his hands, he worked as a mechanic for a number of trucking companies and on outboard motors.  

In 1974 he married Barbara Jean Crosby. She predeceased him in 2007.

In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking, duck hunting, action movies, country music and the ocean. Known as “Big Ern-Pa and Bumpa,” he was a dependable father who loved his family.

For many years he was a volunteer member of the Falmouth Fire Department.

Surviving are his five children, son Raymond E. Fochler, his wife Suzanne of Pownal and their children Corey Fochler, Nicole Fochler and Ryan Cleaves; daughter Polly Davis, her husband Herb of Standish and their children Heather Cerrato and Ashley Brown; son Scott Fochler of Gray and his daughters Noelle Fochler and Jessica Fochler; son Dale Fochler and his girlfriend Sandra Grenier of Yarmouth; son Richard Fochler of Yarmouth and his children Samantha Fochler, Andrew Fochler and Cooper Fochler; his stepsons Brian Bickford of Topsham and John Bickford of Standish; his sister Barbara Hobbs of Scarborough; seven great-grandchildren; and his cat Boo, who gave him great comfort after Barbara’s death.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday Feb. 24 at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth.

Please visit lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of his life and to share your condolences, memories and tributes with the Fochler family.

Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Sidebar Elements

---

Fochler