Rodney H. Wales, 85, of Fryeburg Harbor, died Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Bridgton Hospital, of natural causes, with his family and Pastor Cathy Cantin by his side.

Rodney was born on the old homestead in Fryeburg Harbor to Cory and M. Evelyn (Emery) Wales. He attended Fryeburg Harbor School, and Fryeburg Academy, graduating with the class of 1954. In 1955, Rodney married Patricia Y. Madsen, they moved into a one-room camp on the McNeil Road and started their family.

Rodney started his logging career working with his father in the woods with a chainsaw and horses. He hauled timber products for his brother-in-law before going out on his own cutting timber. In 1983, Rodney incorporated with his wife Pat and son Randy in addition, to mechanize the whole operation, providing selective cutting, chipping, and land-clearing services. R.H. Wales and Son was named the Forest Resource Association’s Northeastern Outstanding Logger for 1993. After giving a speech at the National Conference in San Antonio Texas, about logger’s way of life being threatened and like the eagles that nested on his land, loggers might become a rare and possibly extinct breed. Rodney was asked to join the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, where he served as secretary from 1995 to 2012. Rodney helped to put together the Master Loggers Program and served on the executive board as well as the certification board. Throughout Rodney’s career, all of his work came to him by word of mouth, and he was highly respected in the industry.

Rodney was a man of great faith with a warm greeting for everyone. He served as the lay leader and president of the Board at the Bradley Memorial United Methodist Church, as the president of the Austin Bemis Cemetery Association, as well as a member of the Historical Society.

Rodney enjoyed picking cranberries from the fen out back of the old homestead, and later sold it to the Greater Lovell Land Trust, so to preserve it for future generations. After retiring, Rodney found he enjoyed cooking, still taking Sunday drives with Pat, gardening, and taking care of his lawn. He was proud to have lived his whole life in the harbor and built their retirement home on the banks of the Old Saco River. He enjoyed watching the sand cranes, eagles, geese, and all the other wildlife from his chair. We will miss his wit, wisdom, and positive attitude.

Rodney is survived by his wife of 66 years, Pat; daughter Debbie and her husband Christopher Woodward; sister Lorraine Kneelan; sister-in-law Grace Leach and her companion Bob Wilson; son-in-law Steven Snow Sr. and his companion Beth Hartford; daughter-in-law Tracy Wales, grandsons Steven Snow Jr. and his wife Ashley; grandsons Benjamin and Nathaniel Woodward, Reed Wales, and great-grandson Caleb Snow, granddaughter Rayna Wales, along with a great many special cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, sisters Elsie Griffin, H. Louise Morse, and Virginia Griffin, daughter Wanda Snow, son Randy, and grandson baby Roy.

A big thank you to Kay, Tom, Andrea, Steven, Stevie and Hopsing for always being there when called on to help. The family would like to thank the staff at First Light Home Care, Bridgton Hospital Oncology, Cardiology, and the ER Department for their excellent and compassionate care. Rodney was loved and will be missed by all.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 18, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bradley Memorial United Methodist Church, 454 McNeil Road, Fryeburg. Funeral services will be held at the church on Saturday February 19, 2022, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations in Rodney’s name may be made to the Austin Bemis Cemetery Association, Attn: Duane Cossette – Treasurer, 385 McNeil Road, Fryeburg, ME 04037. To share memories and condolences with the family please go to www.woodfuneral home.org. Arrangements are under the care of Wood Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 9 Warren Street, Fryeburg.