North Bath – Ardenne S. Haines, 90, passed away on Thursday, Oct 19, 2017.  He resided in North Bath nearly all his life.

Ardenne was born in Bath Maine on April 27, 1927, the son of the late Royden D. and the late Charlotte Greenleaf Haines.  He attended Bath schools graduating from Morse High School in 1945.

As a young man, Ardenne joined Boy Scout Troop 50.  He later served as Cub Scout committee man, assistant scoutmaster and scoutmaster of troop 57/657 which he built into 70 scouts, the largest troop in Bath.  He taught winter survival and camped out every month regardless of weather.  He became a round table commissioner, merit badge counselor, training commissioner, order of the arrow, and received the silver beaver and national endowment award.  When he became neighborhood commissioner there were two troops and 1 cub pack, when he left in 1972 there were eleven troops and seven cub packs.

Ardenne started his military career in Morse High School’s Military Unit as a member of the State Guard at the age of fourteen.  He joined the Army in 1945 discharged in 1946.  He joined the National Guard in 1947, and rejoined the Army in 1949 serving in Korea from 1950 until discharged in 1952.

He received numerous awards and medals; Good Conduct Medals, WW2 Victory Medal, United Nation Medal, Korean Service Medal with seven campaign stars, Korean Presidential Campaign Ribbon, U.S. Presidential Campaign Medal, three meritorious Unit Citations, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Distinguished Service Medal.  He turned down two appointments for commission and remained in the National Guard joining the Army Reserves in 1966 staying there until retiring as Sargent Major in 1988.

During the years between 1947 and 1949 Ardenne often worked in the woods with his horses hauling logs and pulp.  His horses also were seen in the parades hauling the hand tubs for the firemen.

In 1953 Ardenne married Millicent Smith and made their home together for 47 years in North Bath.  He also began work at Bath Iron Works retiring in 1988.  For nine years while in the union he was shop steward, assistant chief steward, on the COPE committee, and financial and recording secretary.  He then became a lead man in the stores and materials division.  He taught the security guards to shoot their pistols.  During lay off times from Bath Iron Works he would work for Berry‘s Oil Company, Legards Taxi, and Oakhurst Dairy.  He owned a dairy farm and raised beef cattle as well.

In 1972 Ardenne became a lay minister in the Bath Evangelistic Association where they filled the pulpit all over Maine.  He was the pastor at the Edgecomb Baptist Church for 16 years.  He rejoined the membership at the First Baptist Church in Bath where he was chairman of the deaconate.  He initiated the 80 foot handicap ramp and a handicap bathroom there. 

Ardenne was the seventh degree member and master of the West Bath Grange.  He was a member of the red men.  He raised pheasants for the Rod and Gun Club, cut his own fire wood, and always had a garden.  He wrote many letters to the editor of the local paper.  He wrote poems of which one was sent to recruiting in Washington.

He is survived by sons, Ardenne Haines II of Brunswick and Lawrence Haines of Bath; a daughter, Patricia Guerette of Bath, and a step daughter, Sarah Beck of Nevada.  He also leaves sisters, Delores Fitzgerald of Brunswick, Arnola Mullens and Eulalia Berry of Bath as well as several nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his parents, a twin brother and sister Anthony and Nyoka who died at birth in 1945.  As well as his wife Millicent of 47 years who died in 2000, a brother Royden Haines of Bath and sister Ramona Pearson of Bath.

A Graveside Service will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery, Southside, Bath on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 1:00pm with the Reverend Michael Pearson officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, Ardenne would prefer memorial contributions be made to any charity, church or youth group, of your choice.

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