Phillip "Stubby" E Steward Sr. Obituary (1932 - 2015)

Philip (Stubby) E. Steward Sr. of Skowhegan passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on April 9, 2015, in Skowhegan, Maine. He was born on December 16, 1932 in Skowhegan to William and Elsie (Littlefield) Steward. As a student at Skowhegan High School, Philip distinguished himself in track and field events and as a running back in football. He was later inducted to the Skowhegan Football Hall of Fame. On June 28, 1952, Philip married his high school sweetheart, Joan Cross Steward and they made their home in Skowhegan. In September of 1959, Philip was born again when he accepted Christ as his personal savior. After serving in the Army in the early ‘50s, Philip returned to Skowhegan to work for Norwalk Shoe Company. He later owned and operated the Cross Gas Company for many years before joining and retiring from the Skowhegan Highway Department. Philip enjoyed travel with family to Hilton Head, Disney, Utah, and many other locales in the U.S. He enjoyed playing golf and was a life long fan of Ohio State University football. He especially enjoyed time at the cottage on Lake Wesserunsett with Joan and the family and loved waterskiing. He treasured time with the grandchildren – including a special candy dish he kept filled just for the great-grand kids. He is predeceased by his wife Joan, and survived by son Philip Jr. and his wife Debra of Pepperell, MA, daughter Susan Lowry and her husband Ronald of Kankakee, IL, and daughter Rachel Hitchings and her husband Rick of Skowhegan, ME, as well as six grandchildren Kate and Bethany Steward, Christine Lawson and her husband Jonathan, Calla Lowry, Meghann Holcomb and her husband Jared, Christopher Hitchings and his wife Katie, five great-grandchildren Sophia, Cedric, and Liam Holcomb, Joshua, and Lucy Hitchings. He is survived by his brother Percy Steward of Canaan and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by Paul Steward, Ernest Steward, Mildred Leo, Dorothy LeClair, Shirley Sawyer and Jesse Wing. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the entire staff at Maine General Community Health Hospice and a special “thank you” to friends Una and Randy Whalen and Terri and Greg Theriault. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday April 13th at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday April 14th, at Crossroads Bible Church, Route 201, Madison, with Pastor Louis Turner officiating. A coffee reception will follow at the church. Arrangements are under the care of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maine General Hospice, Office of Philanthropy, P O Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903-0828 or National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33 Street, New York, NY, 10016.