WESTBROOK – Ronald Glenn Maier passed away suddenly on Feb. 10, 2023.  He was born in Evansville, Ind. on April 23, 1937, the son of the late Walter W. and Elsie H. (Creek) Maier.  After high school, Ron enlisted in the Air Force, serving basic training in San Antonio, TX, then on to Holloman AFB, NM, and then later to Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, Calif., where he worked on improving the electronics aspects of the Navy’s important sidewinder missile.  After discharge from the Air Force, Ron worked several jobs before being hired as a mechanic for the late Dan Gurney, one of the most celebrated racers in American history.

Ron eventually moved to Maine where he met and later married Jeanne Heikkinen.  He kept busy becoming a champion trap shooter, captaining sailboats for private individuals, getting his private pilot license, restoring a 1940 Aeronca Champ airplane, building an acrobatic RV8 airplane that he flew all over the US and serving as the manager of the Limington Harmon Airport.

Besides his parents, Ron was predeceased by his sister Wanda M. (Maier) Silber, daughter Christine A.  (Maier) Moore and step-grandson Stephen Christopher Smith.

Ron is survived by his wife and best friend Jeanne, who have been together for 41 years; sister Joyce A. (Maier) Ditzer of Evansville, Ind., brothers David E. Maier of Rhinebeck, N.Y. and John F. Maier of Evansville, Ind., daughter Carrie A. (Maier) Jackson of San Pedro, Calif., stepsons Michael W. Smith and Christopher J. Smith, both of Porter; step-grandson Cody J. Smith of South Portland, step-granddaughter Bailey A. Smith of Porter; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial reception will be held on Monday, Feb. 20, from 2-5 p.m., at the Elizabeth Hobbs Hospitality Center, Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.