STOCKTON SPRINGS – John Roland Sanborn Sr., 69, passed away Sept. 12, 2006. John was born Sept. 16, 1936, in Winterport, the son of Norman and Hazel (Bowden) Sanborn. He served in the Army as a ham radio operator, most of the time in Germany. After being discharged from the service, he spent several years training at Brewer Upholstery, via the G.I. Bill. He owned his own custom upholstery business for more than 40 years. He optimized the master upholsterer. For those of you who don’t know John, he was the guitar picker that roamed around many of the festivals with a World War I military campaign hat, and carried a Martin guitar. He played with the best of pickers and anyone else that enjoyed bluegrass. His hobbies included H.O. scale trains, ham radio, hunting, fishing, bluegrass festivals, feeding his squirrels and birds, and tormenting his grandkids. He was a fanatic Jeff Gordon fan! He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Donna; his children, Karee Murphy, Johnny Sanborn and his wife, Sandy, Aimee Grindel and her husband, Andy, Wendi Harrison and her husband, Bill and Scott Pentheny; his grandchildren, Derrol and Michael Murphy, Michele Gray, Shanna Murphy, Tyler, Ryan and Kyle Sanborn, Andrew and Adam Grindel and Selena and Riley Harrison; two great-grand-children; along with several nieces and nephew, and a large bluegrass family. A service of remembrance will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, Belfast. The family would like to invite all family and friends to a memorial reception gathering to honor John immediately after the service at the Searsport Lion’s Club. Bluegrass pickers bring your instruments. Those who wish may make a memorial donation in John’s honor to the Bluegrass Music Association of Maine, BMAM, P.O. Box 1010, Brunswick, ME 04011. Please earmark donations to Education- John Sanborn.
JOHN ROLAND SANBORN SR.
