SANFORD — Eugene Stewart Tarbox Sr., 81, of Sanford, died on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford, following a brief illness.
Eugene was born in Portland on July 27, 1932, to Errol Eugene and Alice Rhoda (Stewart) Tarbox.
He was raised on Carver Street in Sanford, and grew up working in the woods alongside his father Errol, also known as “Chick,” who was a well-known forester at that time.
He had two brothers, James Tarbox of Sanford, who passed away not long ago, and Jack Tarbox, who still resides in Sanford.
Eugene graduated from Sanford High School, and then entered the U.S. Navy as a Seabee, where he served as a heavy equipment diesel mechanic throughout his four years of service. While serving as a Seabee, he was able to travel the world, visiting places such as North Africa, French Morocco and St. Thomas, to name a few. After completing his term in the military, he rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle from Maine to Florida to visit a Navy buddy. From that point on, he never cared to travel again. Sanford was where his heart was, and Sanford was where he was happy to stay.
After he returned to Sanford, Eugene returned to working in the woods. He also worked for a time at Davidson Rubber in New Hampshire and even drove a tractor-trailer truck hauling apples. He built his own home using nothing but hand tools like he’d always dreamed of doing, and from then on, carpentry was his professional calling. He always used to say that carpentry never felt like work, because he enjoyed it so much. He was employed as a carpenter for Lamontange Brothers and also did carpentry work at Vishay-Sprague for many years as an outside contractor.
Old friends knew him as “Pogie,” and more recent friends knew him as “Gene” or “Mr. Box.”
Eugene loved to whittle and did several incredible woodcarvings with only a chain saw. The characters from “The Wizard of Oz” had been on display at the former Beaver Hill Playhouse, and the lion in front of the Lions Club in Waterboro was also carved by Eugene. Some of his pieces have traveled as far as Fredericksburg, Va. to be admired by visitors at a local tavern.
Eugene’s pride and joy was his two children, daughter Christal (Tarbox) Tuttle and his son, Eugene S. Tarbox Jr., also known as “Pudge.” He was a dedicated father, humble, a good listener, open minded, honest, fair and kind to everyone he encountered. Pudge grew up as one of Sanford’s own star baseball players. Eugene was never absent from any game, including his grandson’s. He loved the Boston Red Sox and local baseball, and remained a dedicated fan until the end of his life. He was pretty much a fixture at Sanford’s Goodall Park. He loved to recall the day Babe Ruth was chauffeured down Roberts Street and stepped out of the back seat of the long, sleek, expensive automobile wearing a big, bulky raccoon coat. “The Babe” was in Sanford to play at Goodall Park. In honor of Babe Ruth, Mr. Tarbox purchased a plaque with Babe Ruth’s name engraved on it, which is attached to one of the seats at the park.
Eugene was also a dedicated supporter for many years of a local Alcoholics Anonymous group in Sanford as well as a longtime member of the former Chitchat Club. He helped many people through tough times and was well-respected for his quiet wisdom.
Surviving are: his son, “Pudge” Tarbox of Sanford; his daughter, Christal (Tarbox) Tuttle and her husband Arthur of Lyman; three grandchildren, Samantha (Tuttle) Fairfield of Bend, Ore., Casey (Tuttle) Marcotte of Lyman and Ryan Tuttle of Cunningham, Tenn.; and five great-grandchildren, Zahara Fairfield, Caylin and Brydon Marcotte, and Mackenzie and Ian Tuttle.
Visitation will be held from 5-6 p.m. with a funeral service being held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, located at 580 Main St. in Springvale. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.
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