Maxwell Eugene Thompson, 99, of Litchfield and the proud recipient of the Boston Post Cane, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

Gene was born on February 16, 1923 in Chelsea, the son of James Wilson Thompson and May Caldwell Thompson. Shortly after his birth the family moved to the farm on High Street in West Gardiner. Gene attended Gardiner Schools and graduated from Gardiner High School in 1942.

After working on the farm throughout his childhood and as a young man, he worked for a brief time at Gardiner Shoe until he was drafted into the Army where he was assigned to the 551^st Field Artillery Battalion and sent to the front lines of WWII in Europe. After his military service, Gene worked at the Togus VA Hospital for thirty years where he made friends with other veterans from around the state. Their homes often became the destinations for family Sunday afternoon rides while the Red Sox blared on the car radio.

Gene always thought of himself as a farmer even though early on he abandoned the thought of working on his father’s farm or raising chickens with his brother Chet. At his Litchfield home, Gene always had a large garden, a faithful hunting dog, and multiple opportunities to putter. Many of his retirement years were spent tending to hawks, owls, and other birds as a wildlife rehabilitator with his wife Jean at Jean’s Jungle. He took great pride in the care of his land and the animals there.

Gene was pre-deceased by his wife of seventy-two years, Jean Morris Thompson; his daughter Gail Thompson Hulsey; and his three brothers—John, Lawrence, and Chester.

Gene is survived by his daughters Anne Thompson of Litchfield and Barbara Thompson (her husband Wayne Thompson) of Lisbon; his grandson Andrew Clemons (his wife Jamie Shaw Clemons and their children Clark and Dean) of New Albany, Ohio; his grandson Samuel Rothman of Scarborough; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

 A graveside service for Gene and Jean will be held at a later date this summer.