Robert Francis Layman, 71, of Country Club Road, a Navy veteran who received medals of commendation from former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Russian President Boris Yeltsin, died Thursday at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Togus.
Mr. Layman was a member of the ''forgotten convoy'' to Russia during the winter of 1943. The small convoy of ships, which brought supplies to the Russian allies, was trapped in the White Sea for more than a year by the Axis forces.
''What they thought was going to be a routine three-month supply run to Murmansk took over a year. The Germans had them pinned in the White Sea for over a year and everybody on the ship almost died,'' said Mr. Layman's daughter-in-law, Linda Layman of Moorpark, Calif.
When the convoy eventually escaped, and the crew returned to the United States, they were awarded citations from Eleanor Roosevelt. Mr. Layman accepted the award on behalf of the sailors.
Years later, in 1993, Mr. Layman was among Navy veterans honored for his efforts by Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Also during his six-year military service, while serving in the Pacific theatre, Mr. Layman witnessed the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in March 1945.
After leaving the service, Mr. Layman married Avis A. Markey in Greenville in 1947. He worked in the post office in Greenville until 1970, and later was the manager for the Kodak estate in Annapolis, Md. He moved to Beverly Hills, Calif., and worked in the same capacity for the Stein family, who founded MCA Records and Universal Studios. He returned to Maine in 1980 in retirement.
Mr. Layman and his wife later wrote a cookbook, ''From Moose to Mousse.'' The book, published in the early 1980s.
He was born in Stoneham, Mass. a son of Harold Eugene and Margaret LeDuc Layman, and graduated from Stoneham High School.
Mr. Layman is survived by his wife of 48 years; two sons, William M. of Columbia Falls and Rodney C. of Moorpark, Calif.; and five grandchildren, including Jonathan Layman of Columbia Falls, with whom he shared a special relationship. (Maine Sunday Telegram 1/15/1995)
Bio from Bev at FAGrave
LAYMAN, ROBERT FRANCIS
BM2C US NAVY WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/09/1923
DATE OF DEATH: 01/12/1995
BURIED AT: SECTION PC ROW 21 SITE 4
MAINE VETERANS' MEMORIAL CEMETERY
BOX 916A OLD BELGRADE ROAD AUGUSTA, ME 04330
Mr. Layman was a member of the ''forgotten convoy'' to Russia during the winter of 1943. The small convoy of ships, which brought supplies to the Russian allies, was trapped in the White Sea for more than a year by the Axis forces.
''What they thought was going to be a routine three-month supply run to Murmansk took over a year. The Germans had them pinned in the White Sea for over a year and everybody on the ship almost died,'' said Mr. Layman's daughter-in-law, Linda Layman of Moorpark, Calif.
When the convoy eventually escaped, and the crew returned to the United States, they were awarded citations from Eleanor Roosevelt. Mr. Layman accepted the award on behalf of the sailors.
Years later, in 1993, Mr. Layman was among Navy veterans honored for his efforts by Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Also during his six-year military service, while serving in the Pacific theatre, Mr. Layman witnessed the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in March 1945.
After leaving the service, Mr. Layman married Avis A. Markey in Greenville in 1947. He worked in the post office in Greenville until 1970, and later was the manager for the Kodak estate in Annapolis, Md. He moved to Beverly Hills, Calif., and worked in the same capacity for the Stein family, who founded MCA Records and Universal Studios. He returned to Maine in 1980 in retirement.
Mr. Layman and his wife later wrote a cookbook, ''From Moose to Mousse.'' The book, published in the early 1980s.
He was born in Stoneham, Mass. a son of Harold Eugene and Margaret LeDuc Layman, and graduated from Stoneham High School.
Mr. Layman is survived by his wife of 48 years; two sons, William M. of Columbia Falls and Rodney C. of Moorpark, Calif.; and five grandchildren, including Jonathan Layman of Columbia Falls, with whom he shared a special relationship. (Maine Sunday Telegram 1/15/1995)
Bio from Bev at FAGrave
LAYMAN, ROBERT FRANCIS
BM2C US NAVY WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/09/1923
DATE OF DEATH: 01/12/1995
BURIED AT: SECTION PC ROW 21 SITE 4
MAINE VETERANS' MEMORIAL CEMETERY
BOX 916A OLD BELGRADE ROAD AUGUSTA, ME 04330
Robert Francis Layman, 71, of Country Club Road, a Navy veteran who received medals of commendation from former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Russian President Boris Yeltsin, died Thursday at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Togus.
Mr. Layman was a member of the ''forgotten convoy'' to Russia during the winter of 1943. The small convoy of ships, which brought supplies to the Russian allies, was trapped in the White Sea for more than a year by the Axis forces.
''What they thought was going to be a routine three-month supply run to Murmansk took over a year. The Germans had them pinned in the White Sea for over a year and everybody on the ship almost died,'' said Mr. Layman's daughter-in-law, Linda Layman of Moorpark, Calif.
When the convoy eventually escaped, and the crew returned to the United States, they were awarded citations from Eleanor Roosevelt. Mr. Layman accepted the award on behalf of the sailors.
Years later, in 1993, Mr. Layman was among Navy veterans honored for his efforts by Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Also during his six-year military service, while serving in the Pacific theatre, Mr. Layman witnessed the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in March 1945.
After leaving the service, Mr. Layman married Avis A. Markey in Greenville in 1947. He worked in the post office in Greenville until 1970, and later was the manager for the Kodak estate in Annapolis, Md. He moved to Beverly Hills, Calif., and worked in the same capacity for the Stein family, who founded MCA Records and Universal Studios. He returned to Maine in 1980 in retirement.
Mr. Layman and his wife later wrote a cookbook, ''From Moose to Mousse.'' The book, published in the early 1980s.
He was born in Stoneham, Mass. a son of Harold Eugene and Margaret LeDuc Layman, and graduated from Stoneham High School.
Mr. Layman is survived by his wife of 48 years; two sons, William M. of Columbia Falls and Rodney C. of Moorpark, Calif.; and five grandchildren, including Jonathan Layman of Columbia Falls, with whom he shared a special relationship. (Maine Sunday Telegram 1/15/1995)
Bio from Bev at FAGrave
LAYMAN, ROBERT FRANCIS
BM2C US NAVY WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/09/1923
DATE OF DEATH: 01/12/1995
BURIED AT: SECTION PC ROW 21 SITE 4
MAINE VETERANS' MEMORIAL CEMETERY
BOX 916A OLD BELGRADE ROAD AUGUSTA, ME 04330
Mr. Layman was a member of the ''forgotten convoy'' to Russia during the winter of 1943. The small convoy of ships, which brought supplies to the Russian allies, was trapped in the White Sea for more than a year by the Axis forces.
''What they thought was going to be a routine three-month supply run to Murmansk took over a year. The Germans had them pinned in the White Sea for over a year and everybody on the ship almost died,'' said Mr. Layman's daughter-in-law, Linda Layman of Moorpark, Calif.
When the convoy eventually escaped, and the crew returned to the United States, they were awarded citations from Eleanor Roosevelt. Mr. Layman accepted the award on behalf of the sailors.
Years later, in 1993, Mr. Layman was among Navy veterans honored for his efforts by Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Also during his six-year military service, while serving in the Pacific theatre, Mr. Layman witnessed the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in March 1945.
After leaving the service, Mr. Layman married Avis A. Markey in Greenville in 1947. He worked in the post office in Greenville until 1970, and later was the manager for the Kodak estate in Annapolis, Md. He moved to Beverly Hills, Calif., and worked in the same capacity for the Stein family, who founded MCA Records and Universal Studios. He returned to Maine in 1980 in retirement.
Mr. Layman and his wife later wrote a cookbook, ''From Moose to Mousse.'' The book, published in the early 1980s.
He was born in Stoneham, Mass. a son of Harold Eugene and Margaret LeDuc Layman, and graduated from Stoneham High School.
Mr. Layman is survived by his wife of 48 years; two sons, William M. of Columbia Falls and Rodney C. of Moorpark, Calif.; and five grandchildren, including Jonathan Layman of Columbia Falls, with whom he shared a special relationship. (Maine Sunday Telegram 1/15/1995)
Bio from Bev at FAGrave
LAYMAN, ROBERT FRANCIS
BM2C US NAVY WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/09/1923
DATE OF DEATH: 01/12/1995
BURIED AT: SECTION PC ROW 21 SITE 4
MAINE VETERANS' MEMORIAL CEMETERY
BOX 916A OLD BELGRADE ROAD AUGUSTA, ME 04330
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