Obituary of Paul E. Tower

Paul Edward Tower, 93, passed away Thursday, March 27, 2025 at his home in Brewer. He was born July 12, 1931 at Margaret Kelly’s birthing home on State St. in Brewer, the son of Alfred W. and M. Lillian (Lozier) Tower.

Paul was educated in Brewer schools and graduated from Brewer High School in 1949. He enlisted in the Maine Air National Guard in 1947, was called to active duty in January 1951 and served during the Korean War in the US Air Force as a parachute rigger. While in the Air Force, he married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline A. Robbins in April 1952. After active duty, he went to work as a full time air technician in the Maine Air Guard as a life support supervisor (E-8) retiring in 1986 as an air technician.  He remained in the Air Guard as a historian and started the Heritage Gallery Museum, Bld 505. He retired in February1990 after more than 43 years. He was very proud of his military service. His awards were medals for Meritorious Service, Air Force Commendation, Air Force Achievement, Good Conduct, Air Reserve Merit with four hourglasses, National Defense, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three hour glasses, Air Force Longevity Service with eight oakleaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit with four oakleaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship.

Paul’s organization memberships included the Korean War Veterans Assoc., Chapter #1, continuous life member of the American Legion for 70 years, Commander of Post #98 Brewer from 2011-2013, past member of Post #98 Orono Honor Guard, Post #12 Bangor, Vice President of the Maine State Federation of Firefighters for 10 years, the Brewer Historical Society, the Curran Farm Homestead, Brewer Fire Call Department from 1955-1975 and the department’s historian. He helped start the Hose 5 Museum in Bangor and curated for 10 years. Paul owned a 1952 Mack open cab pumper firetruck and he and Jackie participated in many parades and fire musters from Maine to Massachusetts. He was a collector of fire memorabilia donating many historical items from his collection to the Brewer and Bangor fire museums. He was also on the Maine Air National Guard crash rescue squad, Team #2 for the B52 crash on Elephant Mountain in Greenville, Maine in 1963.

Paul and Jackie traveled to many wonderful places including England, Scotland, Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, Canada and around the United States.

Paul was predeceased by his beloved son, Timothy W. Tower in 1997.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Jacqueline A. Tower of Brewer; two daughters, Michelle M. Tower of Auburn and Anne M. Van Atta and her husband, Richard of Stuart, FL; four grandchildren, Andrew M. Clark of Portland, Michael V. Clark of Lewiston, Quinn Van Atta and Logan S. Van Atta both of Stuart, FL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, York St., Bangor where a reception will be held immediately afterward in the church center. Burial with military honors will be later in the spring at Woodlawn Cemetery, Brewer. Messages and memories of Paul may be shared with his family on the tribute wall of kileyandfoley.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bangor Humane Society or St. Jude’s Children's Research.