Obituary of Frederick Victor Glidden

Frederick Victor Glidden passed away peacefully on March 8, 2023, at his home in South China, Maine surrounded by his family.

Fred was born in Gardiner, January 15, 1948, to George Burton Glidden and Pauline Winifred (Stimpson) Glidden.  After graduating from Erskine Academy in 1966, he then achieved his Maritime Engineering Degree from Maine Maritime Academy in May 1970. A few months later, in September, Fred married the love of his life, Bonnie. 

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie (Smith) Glidden and their three children: Michael (Tania Martinez Lemke), Tiffany (Joseph Plourde) and Dori (Isreal Rancourt); nine grandchildren; Rowen Glidden, Zachary Glidden, Arianna Forbes, Matthew and Thomas Plourde; Carrie, Nicholas, Victoria and Natalie Rancourt, and a great granddaughter, Ophelia Forbes.  Fred is also survived by his best friend and brother, Nelson (Sue Coons Glidden), sister Gayle, his favorite cousin Pamela (Stimpson) Aveling, and many other cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents George and Pauline, cousins Jerry Stimpson, Paula (Stimpson) Fueschel and other cousins.

Together they enjoyed building a home full of love, laughter, and life values for their three children. Fred was passionate, full of life and enthusiastic. He filled the room with his presence, always telling stories and jokes.  He led a life full of adventure, filled with lots of unusual journeys and many traditional hobbies; snowmobiling, ice fishing, camping, boating, water skiing and billiards were just a few.  His many extraordinary adventures, both at home and abroad, could fill a bestselling book. Who else do you know has visited all 15 Presidential Libraries, or flown in a Concorde? After circling the globe many times, we lost count of the countries he visited.

Although he traveled the world, his one true north was home with his family and community. Fred fostered these relationships by building homes with his family, joining the South China Volunteer Fire Department in 1973, which he became Treasurer of in 2012.  He enjoyed hosting gatherings at the multi-generational family camp, his hard work, exceptional life, dedication, and laughter became legendary and will forever echo on China Lake.

Please join the family to remember Fred on July 1, 2023 at 1 pm at the camp. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Gerald Stimpson & Frederick Glidden Scholarship at Erskine Academy, 309 Windsor Road South China ME 04358 or the South China Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 325 South China ME, 04358. 

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com