OLD ORCHARD BEACH – W. Victor Gould Jr., 87, of Old Orchard Beach, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2021 with his family by his side at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

Victor was born in Auburn on Sept. 1, 1933. He was the son of W. Victor Gould and Leonita Pare’ Gould. He grew up in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School (ELHS) in 1951. While attending ELHS he played on the football team and in the marching band.

After high school, Vic proudly served in the Korean War for two years. Upon returning after the war, Vic enrolled at Wentworth Institute of Technology and graduated in 1958 with an associate of science degree in electrotonics.

He was married to Claire Gagnon Gould in 1958 and they were together for 61 years until her death in 2019. They started their family in Bedford, Mass. and soon after moved to Yarmouth where they resided for nearly 25 years, raising five sons. Vic was known for an old-fashioned work ethic which he applied to a career in electronics and sales. He worked for Fairchild, Cumberland York Distributors, and American Concrete before retiring well into his 70s.

As a long-time resident of Yarmouth, Vic served as a member of the Lion’s Club for nearly 25 years. Vic could be seen each year working at the Lion’s Club booth at the Yarmouth Clam Festival. He was a Little League coach for many years and took it upon himself to lead the planning, procuring of materials, and contractors to build an additional Little League Field. He proudly attended nearly every one of his son’s athletic games for more than a decade. In 1997 he was one of the ELHS class of ’51 members to establish the Donald Gay Scholarship fund, named after a music teacher at ELHS during the 1940s and ’50s.

He and Claire moved to Old Orchard Beach in 2004, joining the Cider Hill community. He loved nothing more than spending time with his friends at Cider Hill playing cards on Friday nights.

A loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, his greatest source of pride came from spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He always looked forward to holidays, birthdays, and graduations when everyone would be together. Some of his fondest memories include traveling with his sons to Patriots and Red Sox games around the country. Those who knew Vic well were aware of his passion for sending cards. He would never let an occasion go by without mailing cards to family and friends.

Vic was known for his volunteerism and spent many years volunteering at the Ball Park in Old Orchard Beach. He also supported the local food pantry and other fundraisers and charities. In 2016 he received the Paul Harris Fellow Rotary Club Award recognizing his volunteer service.

Vic is survived by his five sons and their families, James Gould and his wife Kristen of Kennebunk, Thomas Gould and his wife Kristin of Rutland, Mass., Peter Gould and his wife Leanne of Bedford, N.H., Steven Gould and his wife Janice of Belchertown, Mass., and Mark Gould and his wife Meg of Nashua, N.H.; a brother, John Gould; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Vic was predeceased by his wife, Claire Gould (2019); his brother, Roland Gould (2015); and his grandson, Brett Gould (2007).

Please join us in celebrating his life at a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, June 18 at 11 a.m. at St. Margaret’s Church, 6 Saco Ave., Old Orchard Beach.

Vic will be loved and remembered in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

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