March 28, 1921 – April 5, 2015

Wesley Bradford “Bink” Rand, 94, died peacefully April 5, 2015, in Dowling Park, Fla. He was born March 28, 1921, in Ashland, Maine, to Errol Lee and Una Hope Gardner Rand. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the Pacific. He raised potatoes in Ashland for many years, cut pulp in the winters with his friend and neighbor, “Beeb” Gardner, then worked for Great Northern Paper Company until his retirement in 1986.

He and his wife, Luona Sylvester Rand, spent his retirement years traveling to and from the homes of family members in North Carolina, Florida, California and Hallowell, Maine. He declared that he was done shoveling snow, so spent many winters in North Carolina with family members, and drove back to Ashland to the old homestead for the summers.

Wesley “Bink” Rand was a good and godly man who loved his God and his family. He spent his last two years in the Good Samaritan Center at Dowling Park, Florida, where every nurse and employee there loved him. He was known and loved by many, whether he was Wesley, Wes, Bradford, Brad, Bink, Dad, Grampy, Uncle Bink or Mr. Rand.

Wesley leaves behind his wife of 68 years, and four children, seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren: Phyllis Rand of Pensacola, Florida, Linda and Richard Russell of North Carolina and their sons, Jason and Seth, and their families; Kay Rand and Cornell Knight of Bar Harbor, Maine, and their daughters, Jessie and Jillian, and their families; and Douglas and Sheri Rand of Matthews, North Carolina, and their daughters, Royale, Jennifer, Reagan and Taylor.

He was pre-deceased by his infant son, Lee Bradford, his brother Philip Rand and his sisters, Ada Rand Snowman, Pearl Rand, and Sally Rand Martin. He is survived by his sister, Edna Rand Ellis, of Ashland and her husband, Malcolm.

A memorial service will be held at the Ashland Advent Christian Church at a date to be announced later. In lieu of flowers, Bink would have loved donations in his name to his beloved home church, the Ashland Advent Christian Church, Ashland, Maine, or to the Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park, Florida, his last home on earth. Arrangements are a service of Lajoie Funeral Home – Ashland, 114 Exchange St., PO Box 39, Ashland, ME 04732.