Stuart H. “Sonny” Bailey, 91, of Woolwich and a former winter resident of Tampa, Florida, died July 5, 2016 after a 23-year battle with heart disease.

He was born in Wiscasset on April 19, 1925, the son of Stuart L. and Suzie Maude (Ogilvie) Bailey. He grew up in Wiscasset and attended school there. At the age of 16, he left school to go to work at Bath Iron Works as an insulator for a short time before going to work on the farm to help the family.

When the war broke out, he wanted to do his part so on January 27, 1944, Stuart went to the recruiting office to join the United States Navy. The officer stamped United States Army and Stuart proudly signed and served his country under General George Patton. Stuart belonged to the 4th Armored Division, Troop D and the 25th Mechanized Calvary. As a scout behind the enemy line, his orders were to see and not to be seen. He was trained at Camp Blanding, Florida and then deployed to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey before being sent to Glasgow Scotland, United Kingdom, on August 14, 1944. After arriving in Glasgow he proceeded to get on a train for South Hampton England; two weeks later, he entered the war in France with the battle of Nancy.

He took great pride in telling of his experiences at family gatherings, like when he and his buddy, Harry Cameron, from Georgia, on the way to the Battle of the Bulge, The Battle of the Bulge was behind he and Harry -- it was around April 4, 1945. They drove through a group of civilians on a hill who were wondering why they were there; at the top of the hill, they got their answer, the gate said “OHRDRUF,” concentration camp “the gates of hell.” They were probably the first folks into the “Ohrdruf, Germany” concentration camp. This was the first concentration camp to be liberated, something he was very proud of. Stuart and Harry saw a lot of action together and made a friendship bond that was never broken. He also saw action in the Battle of the Bulge, where he served with George Polis, from Indiana, who he considered his angel. They made it out together.

He earned several medals including Army of Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, ETO Medal, Dist Unit Badge, Bz Sv Star “Rhineland”, Bz Sv Star “Ardennes”, Bz Sv Star “Central Europe Campaign”, and a Good conduct Medal.

On December 3, 1945 Stuart was given a furlough before reenlisting. He returned to the States and this is when he proposed to his true love, Marjorie Fraser. The couple were married after his tour on June 20, 1947 in Bath at the Nazarene Church.

Besides working on the family farm and at BIW, Stuart was a barber in both Maine and Florida but most of his life he was a carpenter by trade, and donated a lot of his skills. He assisted in building the Bath overpass, Bath Nazarene Church, many schools, motels and homes in the area.

Stuart held his faith in God in high regard. As a young boy, going to church on Sunday was priority, no matter what the weather. They walked over the Carlton Bridge every Sunday year round, and drove over the ice in Richmond. All to go to church and not pay the toll. Little did they realize the toll was forgone on Sunday.

Stuart was a lifetime member of the American Legion in Bath, lifetime member of the Nazarene Demomination, a former member of the Bath Nazarene Church, Tampa 1st Church of the Nazarene, and current member of the Wiscasset Church of the Nazarene, Minister of Music for the former Wiscasset Jail and the Twin Bridges Jail, and a former member of Gideons International in Maine and Florida.

Sonny, as everyone called him, enjoyed singing and playing his guitar for anyone that would listen, he looked forward to the birds coming to his feeders, and took great pride working in his vegetable garden. He was also a sports fan, never missing the Red Sox play. But nothing made him happier than spending time with his family. His great-grandchildren were the love of his life. Seeing life again through their eyes, he cherished those moments. “Make good memories now, it’s all you have when you get old!” is something that he would say. His traditions and memories will live on with us forever. Love you dad, until we meet again.

Stuart was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie and a sister, Verna Bailey.

He leaves behind two daughters, Susan (Bailey) Russelo and husband Angelo of Sebring, Florida, Sandra (Bailey) Wilson and her husband William of Woolwich; a son, the Rev. William H. Bailey and his wife Gloria of Bath; grandchildren, Joseph Grasser, Mathew Grasser, David Webster and Suzie, Heidi (Wilson) Carty and husband John "Doug," Crystal (Wilson) Slone and husband Joseph, Michael and Elizabeth Bailey, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at the David E. Desmond & Son Funeral Home, 638 High St., Bath. A funeral service will follow at noon at the funeral home, with the Rev. Wally Staples officiating, with a committal service at Oak Grove Cemetery, Bath with Military Honors. There will be a Time of Remembrance held at the American Legion after the burial.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com