Orr’s Island- Edwin Leroy Dunlap Sr, age 81, died Saturday September 29^th, 2018 at the VA Medical Center in Augusta.

He was born July 13^th, 1937 on Orr’s Island, the son of Eleanor and Edgar Dunlap. He grew up on Orr’s Island with his two brothers and two sisters. He attended school on Orr’s Island and joined the US Navy in 1953. He met the first love of his life Violet Helen Vash while stationed in Rhode Island. The two married on April 9^th, 1960 in Lincoln Park, MI., and returned to his home town to start their life together.

Edwin was a dedicated provider, working many interesting jobs throughout his life. He lobstered for many years on his father’s boat; He worked at the Shrimp Lab on Great Island; He drove a school bus for SAD 75; he worked for Seahorse Inc. on ships carrying supplies to Oil Rigs down in the Gulf of Mexico. His most recent job until retirement was working for RA Webber & Sons as a truck driver. Edwin also spent 35+ years volunteering for the Orr’s Island Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance services. The career that he never retired from was loving husband, loving partner and loving dad.

In his spare time, he enjoyed going to Bingo with Violet, and traveling to see friends and family. He has forever loved watching his beloved New England Patriots and most anything football.

He spent 53 years with Violet by his side until her passing in October of 2013. Some people never find love but he was blessed to find it twice in his life. In November 2014, he met Irene Thibault. They enjoyed many things together. Although neither was each other’s first love, they had a special bond and love for each other that felt like a first love should. They danced in the kitchen, they traveled to visit family and friends, they liked to attend the Festival of Tree’s every year and spent time at the Elk’s Club socializing.  They loved going on cruises and attending many parties and social events together where he made many special friends along the way.

He is survived by his love Irene Thibault of Orr’s Island; two sons, Edwin L. Dunlap Jr and his wife Karin of Orr’s Island; Michael G Dunlap and his wife Rosemary of Billerica, MA; two daughters, Valery V. Harris of Topsham and Helen E. Bianconi-Murray and her husband Dean of Topsham; He is also survived by Irene’s children – who were like his own; Lisa Aube and her husband Roger of Riverview, FL; Paula Malin of Orr’s Island and Jayson Thibault and his wife Hollie, of Brunswick. His Sister Sueann Miller and her husband Joseph of Cundy’s Harbor; His brother George Dunlap and his partner Gerry of Gray, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild as well as six more grandchildren of Irene’s whom he considered family.

He was predeceased by his parents; brother William Dunlap and sister Althea Alexander.

A memorial service will take place at 10am on October 20^th at the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick, ME. There will be a celebration of life at the Orr’s Island Community Hall beginning at 11:30am following the services. Condolences and memories can be expressed at wwwbrackettfuneralhome.com. In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made in Edwin’s name to the Orr’s & Bailey Islands Fire Department.