Submitted by: Dan Rich

Alphonse E. DeWachter

Dec. 26, 1921 - Dec. 8, 1999

South Bend Tribune 12/9/1999

Retired Commander Alphonse E. DeWachter, USN, 77, of Grant Road, Brunswick, Maine, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 8, in his home.

He was born in Mishawaka, Ind., on Dec. 26, 1921, the son of Ernest and Dorothy (Freepan) De-Wachter. He graduated from South Bend Central High School where he was captain of the basketball team. He joined the Marines in July 1940 and was stationed in San Diego. He transferred to the Navy for flight school in 1943 and was commissioned an ensign at Moffet Field in California in December 1943, flying blimps off the west coast during World War II. After the war he attended Columbia University. Mr. DeWachter had duties in many areas of the country, including two tours at the Brunswick Naval Air Station flying P2Vs. From 1961 to 1962, he was commanding officer of VP 26. Mr. DeWachter retired from the Navy in 1966 after 26 years of military service in Newport, Rhode Island, where he had served as an instructor for three years at the Naval War College. The family returned to Brunswick to live. He was executive director of the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce for 12 years. Mr. DeWachter was a member of the Brunswick Rotary Club and was the first recipient of the Joshua Chamberlain Award in 1977.

On Jan. 20, 1945, he married Joan Zietler of South Bend, Ind. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan of Brunswick; his mother, Dorothy (Freepan) DeWachter of South Bend; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda Ann and James Brown of Windsor, Maine; two sons, James E. DeWachter of Freeport, Maine, and Robert T. DeWachter of Saco, Maine; and a sister, Nancy Post of South Bend. He was preceded by his father, and by a brother, George DeWachter.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday from the First Parish Church, with the Rev. William Imes officiating. Interment will follow in Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. Memorial donations may be made to the Brunswick Rotary Club, P.O. Box. 678, Brunswick, Maine, 04011; to the Parkview Hospital, 329 Maine Street, Brunswick; or to the charity of donor's choice.