Obituary of Joshua Treat

BELFAST (May 1): Joshua Treat III, 88, died peacefully April 30, 2009, in Belfast, surrounded by friends and family. He was born Nov. 1, 1920, in Winterport, son of Joshua and Clara Treat. Joshua was educated in Winterport Schools and went into business with his father, Joshua Treat Jr. at the young age of 19. He married the love of his life, Virginia Vannah of East Boothbay on June 19, 1941, at which point they moved to Belfast. Joshua entered the United States Navy in 1942, and served his country proudly during World War II. Joshua was a staff member of the 7th Fleet subordinate command and was also a commanding officer of enlisted personnel. He was awarded the Navy Unit commendation award twice for outstanding service to the fleet as well as the Victory American Defense medal with two stars. He was stationed on Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands in the South Pacific as a chief warrant officer, at the time it was the largest naval base outside the continental United States. After the war, he returned to Belfast to raise his family and to manage and eventually purchase Perry’s Tropical Nut House. This became his life’s work and passion. Under his entrepreneurial reins, Perry's Nut House became a museum, a place where glorious, memorable jams, jellies and preserves were made, nuts were roasted and candy was made daily. Excellence and the unusual were its specialties. He treasured all patrons, including the many distinguished regular patrons, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Pierre Monteux. Perry’s was sold in 1974, and Joshua continued on with his entrepreneurial spirit by developing many other successful businesses, including Searsport Shores Campground and the Yankee Clipper Restaurant, which was later known as Jed’s Restaurant. He also had many real estate holdings in the area, and was helpful in getting many local businesses started and successful. Joshua was a former trustee and active member of the First Congregational Church of Belfast for more than 50 years. Always active in his community, he served on the boards of Waldo County General Hospital, S.A.D. #34, the Deborah Lincoln Home, the Maine Publicity Bureau and the Service Corps of Retired Executives. Joshua served as the county Chairman of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and March of Dimes, and he was also a director of the YMCA. He was also on the Board of the Margaret Chase Smith Library and she was a lifelong personal friend. He was county chair of the Republican Party, and was a member of the Howard Lodge #69 of Winterport, and was also a member of Anah Temple, Waldo County Shriners. Joshua was a man who loved nature, particularly birds, Western cinema and the landscape and culture of Arizona, where he and his wife spent many winter vacations. He was a prolific vegetable gardener and grower of New Guinea impatiens. He was loving father and faithful husband and will be sadly missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Esther Clark and her husband, Col. Donald Clark II; and his daughter, Linda Treat. Surviving are daughter, Nancy Burnham and her husband, Philip of Searsport; his son, Joshua Treat IV and wife, Anne of Searsport; his brother, William Treat and wife, Vivian of Stratham, N.H.; and a special sister-in-law, Mary Alice Fairley of East Boothbay. He has five grandchildren, Deborah Ryan and husband, Jeff of Searsport, Diana Nickerson of Lewiston, Joshua Treat V and wife, Katie of Waldo, Alexander Treat of Belfast and Emily Burnham of Bangor. He has seven great-grandchildren who always brought a bright smile to his face, Zackary, Andrew, Jessy, Isaac, Dawson, Joshua Hunter and Colby. There will be no visiting hours at the request of the family. The memorial service will be at the First Church in Belfast with Jay and Ginny's special friends Joel Krueger and Kate Winters officiating, at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9. There will be a reception immediately following in the First Church parish hall. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to the Waldo County YMCA, Waldo County Hospice or the First Church in Belfast.