Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKPORT – Elwin S. Mank, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at PenBay Medical Center, Rockport.

Born August 29, 1927 in Hope, he was the son of Elwin and Mary Meservey Mank. He graduated from Appleton High School, Husson College and did MBA graduate work at the University of Illinois and Ohio University.

He joined the Navy shortly after high school, traveled with Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition aboard the USS Pine Island, and later on two cruises to the western Pacific. From December 1946 to March 1947, he was flying photographic missions.

He married Carolyn Louise Lufkin on June 11, 1955 at Warren Baptist Church and together they had three children.

In 1955 he accepted a job with Union Carbide Corporation where he held various management positions during his 28 year career. His service began in Bound Brook, NJ in an entry level management position, before going to Ottawa, IL, where he worked one year at the Manufacturing Plant producing plastics. He then went to Marietta, Ohio as Office Manager at Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Plant for seven years, and returned to Bound Brook where he held various positions, including accounting supervisor, until 1971. He then transferred to management at the home office in New York City as a technical writer. Two years later he returned to Bound Brook as manager of Automated Information Digital Systems and from 1977 to 1983 served as manager of the Union Carbide Accounting Center. In 1983 he became Project Manager for construction of the Division Headquarters building at South Bound Brook. After construction was completed, he was responsible for facility staffing and managed that facility until retiring in 1985.

After retiring, he realized how much he missed working with people and soon acquired a financial consulting position with Amoco Chemical Company where he finished his working career. He returned to Maine in 1992 and bought a house in Rockport to be near his mother and Carolyn’s father. He was able to help care for them in their final years.

His hobbies included fishing, hunting, carving waterfowl, building furniture and toys for his grandchildren, and helping Carolyn with her flower gardens. He enjoyed being the ultimate ‘Do It Yourselfer’, and was a voracious reader.

More than anything, Elwin was devoted to his family and valued spending time with them.

Other than his parents, Elwin was pre-deceased by a sister Gloria E. Parker and a brother Frank L. Mank. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Carolyn of Rockport; his children Terry G. Mank and his wife Deborah of Bridgewater, NJ, Cindy L. Ross and her husband Rick of Charlottesville, VA, Jeffrey E. Mank and his wife Donna of Kennesaw, GA; grandchildren, Justin, Ryan and Colin Mank all of Bridgewater, NJ, Michael, Steven, and Katie Ross all of Charlottesville, VA; a sister Rosalie A. Gleason; a brother Mervyn E. Mank and his wife Gail all of Appleton; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held from 5:00 to 7:00pm, Thursday, May 12, 2016 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a funeral service will be held at 2:00pm, Friday, May 13th. The Reverend David English will officiate. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Appleton.
Elwin attended the West Rockport Baptist Church, and those who wish may make memorial contributions to the West Rockport Baptist Church, P.O. Box 221, West Rockport, ME 04856.

To share a memory or condolence with Mr. Mank’s family, please visit his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.