Joseph Louis Giroux

Joseph Louis Giroux, 93, died after a brief illness, while in Hospice care in Scarborough, on May 2, 2012. He was born on April 25, 1919, one of ten children of the late Edouard and Evangeline (Desrosiers) Giroux of Rumford, Maine. He graduated from Stephens High School in Rumford, in 1938. As a member of the “Greatest Generation”, he joined the Maine National Guard. When the war with Japan broke out in 1941, he enlisted in the United States Army, 103rd Infantry, Company “B”. He married Ella Deraspe of Mexico, Maine on March 14, 1942 in Hattisburg, Mississippi, before being shipped to the Philippine Islands and Guadal-Canal in the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and New Zealand for the duration of the war in the South Pacific Theater. During his service to our country, Louis received the Purple Heart for wounds received in battle, the Silver Star for his gallantry in combat in Luzon, the Bronze Star for valor, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign ribbon with three battle stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Pre-Pearl Harbor ribbon, several campaign bars, and the State of Maine Five Star Honorable Service Medal. After the war, he and his bride made their home in Mexico, Maine where in 1947, they were blessed with a set of twin boys, Timothy, of Mexico, now deceased, and his twin brother Thomas, of West Palm Beach, Florida; and in 1948, another set of twins, Douglas, living in Madawaska, Maine, with his wife Pauline, and his twin sister Delores, (Mrs. Ricky Brunette) of Scarborough, and in 1961, a daughter, Pamela Jean, also deceased. His wife of forty eight years passed away in 1990. In addition to his three remaining children, he is survived by his sister, Alfreda Arsenault of Rumford, his sister in law, Evelyn Deraspe Arbor of Mexico, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews who consider him their favorite uncle. After 36 years, he retired from the U.S. Postal Service at the age of fifty nine, and spent his retirement years hunting, fishing, caring for his annual vegetable garden and creating hundreds of beautiful stained glass treasures in his basement workshop. He was an excellent carpenter, and a member of the Rumford/Mexico Horseshoe Club. He was a lifelong communicant of St Theresa’s Parish in Mexico.