OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Ernest Alfred Tarbox Jr., 85, passed away on Nov. 10, 2014 at Saint Andre Health Care Facility.

He was born in Biddeford on Aug. 18, 1929, just two months before the start of the Great Depression. He was the eldest son of the late Ernest A. and Dorothy Rumery Tarbox.

After graduating from Biddeford High School in 1948, Ernest worked for his uncle, Fred Snow, founder of Snow’s Canning Company and the creator of Snow’s Clam Chowder. He left Snow’s to join his brothers, Paul and George, in forming Eastern Electrical Company, where he worked for the rest of his career, earning his master electrician credentials and as a member of IBEW Local No. 567 Electrical Union for more than 55 years.

On Oct. 22, 1955, he married Irene Ann Duranceau. Together for 37 years, they worked tirelessly to raise their seven sons and one daughter while splitting time between their homes in Old Orchard Beach and on Kennebunk Pond.

Ernest will be remembered for his many civic contributions. He joined the Old Orchard Beach Call Fire Department in 1951, and in 1991, he became the first and only firemen to be honored with a life membership on the OOBFD Call Department. He was member of the fraternity of Freemasonry for more than 50 years, past president of the OOB Credit Union, taught electrical wiring classes for the OOB High School Adult Education program, a member of the Elks Lodge and volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America.

All his life, Ernest loved surrey horse racing, carnivals and most of all circuses, especially the clowns and elephants. He belonged to several organizations dedicated to these activities including: Clowns of America, Circus Fans of America, Circus Model Builders, Carnival Historical & Model Builders Society and Showmen of Maine Association.

Ernest is survived by: his eight children, Ernest Tarbox III and wife Marlene, Carl and wife Constance, Gregory Tarbox, John Tarbox and wife Francis-Marie, James Tarbox and husband Felix Mestras Archaute, Laura Tarbox Desmarais and husband Brian Desmarais, William Tarbox and wife Vanessa Johnson-Tarbox, and Joel Tarbox; his 13 grandchildren, Samuel and wife Kimberly, Amanda and husband Walter LaGrange, Jared and wife Tasha, Melissa, Tiffany, Molly, Brianna, Nicholas, Vivian, Natalie, Drake, Harrison and Jackson; two great-grandchildren, Lily and Elijah; as well as by his brothers and their families, Paul and wife Audrey and George and wife Beth.

Friends and family may call Friday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p.m. at the Dennett, Craig & Pate 365 Main St., Saco. A 7:30 p.m. Masonic service will be conducted Friday by Orchard Lodge No. 215. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Dr. Burton Howe officiating. Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco. For those wishing to make memorial contributions in his memory, mail to: Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074; by phone, 1-800-272-3900 or 772-0115; or online at www.alz.org/maine/in_my_community_donate.asp



        Comments are not available on this story.