Edward P. Hanson

HOLDEN - Edward P. Hanson, of Holden and Cherryfield, Maine passed away peacefully in Boston on Saturday, October 30, 2010 surrounded by his family. He was born in Worcester on January 24, 1917 and studied at local schools until graduating from North High School and entering the U.S. Navy. He served as a fireman upon the U.S.S. Colorado for 4 years, taking part in the historic search for Amelia Earhart in 1937. Ed also served in the 181st Infantry of the U.S. Army stationed at Camp Edwards.

Ed leaves his wife and best friend, Louise W. (Oslund) Hanson, to whom he was married for 68 years. He will be greatly missed by his two children, a son, Michael Hanson and his wife Elizabeth of Princeton and a daughter, Linda Ryan and her husband Frederick of Framingham; his six grandchildren, Debra, Pamela, Cheryl, Mark, Julie and Melanie and 11 great-grandchildren, Erik, Max, Jack, Georgia, Dahlia, Will, Mia, Ava, Connor, Adele and Kelsey. He also leaves his sister Fern Goldsmith of Naples, Flordia and his brother, Roy Hanson of Auburn, and many extended family and good friends.

Mr. Hanson was employed for over 30 years at Norton Company in Worcester, before retiring and running the E&L Antique Shop on Main Street in Holden with his wife for 20 years. Truly a “Renaissance Man”, Ed enjoyed a wide variety of passions including collecting antiques, golfing, singing, restoring antique one-lung gas engines, raising and racing homing pigeons, and all things Maine! He was the last club champion of Lincoln Golf Club in Worcester and is one of the rare individuals in the history of golf to have shot two holes-in-one in single round. Ed, who serenaded his wife every morning and every night during their marriage, began taking formal voice lessons in his late 80’s. With the encouragement of his voice instructor he recorded a CD entitled “Ed Hanson Sings his Favorites” at the age of 90. In 1999, he and Louise followed their lifelong dream to move to Maine and built a beautiful home on 9 acres of rolling green pasture on a tidal river in their beloved Cherryfield. Here they raised chickens and pigeons, grew their own produce, continued their antique business and became well loved characters in the Cherryfield community.

A private graveside service will be held at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton at the convenience of the family. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com