FALMOUTH — John Henry “Jack” Raven, 93, died at home on Friday, Oct. 24. He was born in Knox on July 19, 1921, the sixth of William Henry and Naomi Pearl (Carmichael) Raven’s 17 children. Jack grew up in Knox and graduated from Freedom Academy.

He served his country in the Army during World War II as a Tank Commander in Europe. In 1946, he married Juanita Louise Bowie and together they raised six children in Cumberland until her death in 1973.

Raven worked at the Sebago shoe factory in Westbrook for many years, but he is best known as the owner of Raven’s Lunch, which would later become Food Stop, in Cumberland. He was an affable and beloved figure in town, and most folks living in Cumberland in the mid-1970s to early ’80s knew him.

Raven spent the last year of his life living with his son and daughter-in-law, James and Nora, who gave him full-time, loving care. It was a great comfort to him to be surrounded by family.

Raven is survived by his wife of 26 years, Agnes; his children, Dianne Wheeler of Westbrook, Darryl Raven and wife, Jean, of Thorndike, Joyce Dillow and husband, Charlie, of Litchfield, New Hampshire, Marilyn Nicholas and husband, David, of Harwich, Massachusetts, James Raven and wife, Nora, of Falmouth, Wendy Estabrook and husband, Kenneth, of Falmouth; grandchildren Jason Raven and wife, Angela, of North Yarmouth, Karen White and husband, Ritchie, of Cumberland, Jeffrey Dillow of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Brian Dillow and wife, Julie, of Litchfield, Massachusetts, Joseph Nicholas of Burlington, Vermont, Elizabeth Estabrook and Matthew Estabrook of Falmouth; seven great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Grady, Autumn, Allyson, Emmaline, Mikaela and Lea; siblings, Ethel Pattee of Brooks, Ferne Thompson of Whitneyville, Mabel Larrabee of Knox, Judy Porter of Thorndike, Merle Raven and wife, Val, of Augusta, and Minnie Raven of Thorndike.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Juanita; by brothers Lawrence Raven, Earl Raven, Harold Raven, Seth Raven, Daniel Raven, William Raven and Carl Raven; and by sisters Lila Bryant, Edith Porter and Alfreda Moore.

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Visiting hours were held Monday. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, with burial following in Blanchard Cemetery, Falmouth.

For those who wish, donations may be made to: American Cancer Society, NE Division, Inc., 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086.

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