Kenneth Libby, a retired postmaster for the post office at Prouts Neck, who served a stint as acting executive director for the Maine Turnpike Authority and volunteered for numerous Scarborough organizations, died Wednesday. He was 91.
Mr. Libby began working for the Postal Service in 1949 and served as postmaster of its Prouts Neck branch from 1952 to 1967. Throughout those years, he also worked for the Maine Turnpike Authority. He rose through the ranks to active director before retiring in 1977.
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His son, Gregory Libby, of Atkinson, New Hampshire, remembered his father Thursday as honest, hard-working and personable. Libby said he was well-liked in the community.
“He loved the people,” his son said, referring to the years Libby worked at the post office. “Some of the people at Prouts Neck thought of him like their second dad. He would just talk to the kids. Some would be there every day.”
Mr. Libby lived nearly his whole life in Scarborough. He was a 1940 graduate of Scarborough High School. He served in the Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945 and was a member of the Night Fighters 450th AAF Base Unit, Hammer Field, Calif., according to his obituary, which is posted in Saturday’s newspaper.
He was a loving husband to his wife, Maudie Libby for 71 years. The couple raised three children in Scarborough.
His son recalled their early years Thursday. He said they had mutual respect for each other.
“You fight and you argue, but then you make up and forgive each other and never go to bed angry,” Mr. Libby said in a 2012 story in the Scarborough Leader about their 70th wedding anniversary.
Mr. Libby and his wife enjoyed traveling and hosting parties at their home.
“He and my mother had this magical way of people gravitating toward them,” his son said.
Mr. Libby was active in the community,served as director of the Scarborough Library and the Scarborough Historical Society. He also volunteered for the Black Point Cemetery Association. .
“He always liked to be a part of something …to keep his mind moving,” his son said. “He was a great crossword enthusiast and collected stamps too.”
In addition to his wife and two children, Mr. Libby leaves three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
“You could see his eyes light up when they were around,” his son said.
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