He was born November 1, 1925 in Bath, Maine to Leslie Just Wold and Celia J. (LeFebvre) Wold.
A member of Morse High School Class of 1944, he served in both the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy before attending the University of Maine, Orono and graduating in 1959 as a Mechanical Engineer. During his service in the US Merchant Marines, he was on several missions in which his convoy was attacked and many ships were lost. He was also off the coast of Normandy on D-Day. He later served in the US Navy during the Korean War.
He married Judith Ann Sargent on August 12th, 1951. They moved to Cape Elizabeth in 1959 where they raised their three children. After graduating from University of Maine, he found employment at Portland Copper and Tank Works. He later worked for Hyde Windlass Company at Bath Iron Works. While there, he was asked to join the BIW DX Project, which required him to live in New York City for several years. After the DX Project was completed, he moved his family to West Bath and he became employed by VAST, Inc. He spent his time between the facility in St. Croix, Virgin Islands and the West Bath, Maine Water Tower developing and testing underwater research equipment for government contracts. He then spent 3 years as Supervisor of the Harpswell Fuel Depot prior to returning to the Bath Iron Works Sup Ships, retiring in 1987.
As a lifelong mariner, sailing and being on the water were his proprietary interests beyond his family and homestead. His youth was spent exploring the mid-coastal waters of Maine with his friends in his sailboat, the “Bozo Queen.” During the 1940’s he was an avid participant in the sailboat races of Brigham’s Cove. He sailed off the coast of Alaska with his daughter Susan, and always loved competing in the current day Brigham’s Cove sailboat races in his sailboat “Halcyon.”
His other interests included gardening, refinishing furniture, and wood carving. He could always be found reading anything about history, science, and nautical topics. A skilled hunter and fisherman, his love of fishing and hunting was enhanced even more when he could share the experience with his son and grandsons. Highlights of his life were trips to Norway, one in 2001, to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and another 2 years later to visit the homestead of his grandfather, Just S. Wold.
Larry will forever be missed and remembered for his wonderful sense of loyalty, integrity, self-discipline, curiosity of how things worked, and his ability to do anything he put his mind to. He was a wonderful husband and father, and a great role model.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Judith Ann (Sargent) Wold of West Bath, Maine; daughter Diane Wold Jennings and husband James of West Bath, Maine and Boca Raton, Florida; daughter Susan Wold Saunders of West Bath, Maine; son Leigh Sargent Wold and wife Caitlin (Cavanagh) Wold of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; he is also survived by grandchildren Courtney Jennings England and husband Jon of Melbourne, Florida; Nicholas Lawrence Saunders of West Bath, Maine; Jamison Archer Saunders of West Bath, Maine; Elizabeth Alexandria Booth Wold of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Maren Kate Wold of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Sonia Leigh Wold of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; he is also survived by his greatgrandson Jon Logan England of Melbourne, Florida. Mr. Wold is also survived by his brother Just L. Wold and wife Jeanne of Loudon, Tennessee; as well as nieces, nephew and wonderful friends — some friendships going back 83 and 76 years.
A memorial Celebration of Life will be held at his home in the Cove when his carefully cultivated roses are in bloom and the boats are in the water.
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” — K. Grahame.
Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath. Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
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