Sidney Francis Putnam

SIDNEY FRANCIS PUTNAM

Entered into rest March 17, 2023 at Augusta, Georgia. Born in Malden, Massachusetts April 23, 1936, he was a native of Wakefield, Massachusetts. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Jean Cole, in 1958. They were married for 65 years. They have four children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Upon graduation from Northeastern University, Sidney was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 1958. He served in the Signal Corps for nearly 27 years. His first overseas tour was a one-year classified assignment in 1961 to STARCOM, Vientiane, Laos, serving as one of President Kennedy’s 165 short-sleeved sport shirt soldiers. Later assigned to Headquarters, US Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany, he traveled extensively in 1965-67 in preparation for the relocation of US Forces from France. Immediately following, he was deployed for a one-year tour in Vietnam.

He was a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, where he later served as an instructor in its Department of Logistics, and a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, earning a MEd degree in Secondary Education.

In 1975, Sidney assumed command of the 39th Signal Battalion in Bremerhaven, Germany. While there he was selected to attend the US Army War College at Carlisle Barrracks, Pennsylvania and graduated with the Class of ‘78. Returning to Fort Gordon, he was Director of the Officers Department and then Director of Training Development. After serving as Director of Maintenance Engineering at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey for three years, he retired from the Army with the rank of Colonel in 1985. His awards include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Army Commendation Medal. For the next several years, he worked and traveled as a technical consultant for training, training development and contracting.

Residing in Martinez, Georgia, Sidney attended Wesley United Methodist Church. He was a member and Past Chairman of the Columbia County Board of Elections, a Chairman of the Columbia County Republican Party and a President of the Humane Society. He was also a President of the Columbia County Exchange Club, where he worked to establish their first Annual Spring County Fair and was selected Exchangite of the Year 1996. He served on the Board of Directors of the local American Cancer Society and on the Board of the United Way of Augusta. He enjoyed bass fishing at Clarks Hill Lake and was a longtime member of the Vidette Hunting Club.

Sidney was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Webb Lodge, Augusta, Georgia; Augusta Scottish Rite; the Augusta Shrine Club, Abdallah Shrine Temple, Kansas City, Kansas and Fort Leavenworth Chapter, National Sojourners.

In 2000, Sidney and Barbara began spending summers at Eagle’s Rest, their beloved oceanside cottage in Jonesport, Maine. Sidney was a member of Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church, Jonesport and served for several years as Chairman of its Board of Trustees. He is a Past Master of Jonesport Lodge, member of Rumery Chapter, Order of Eastern Star; Seminary Hill Daylight Lodge, Bangor; Washington RAC, Machias; St. Croix Council, Calais; Hugh de Payens Commandery, Calais; also a life member of VFW Post 11553, Harrington.

The family extends grateful thanks to the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home for Sidney’s loving care.

Sidney is survived by his wife, Barbara, children Lisa Putnam, Linda O’Shaughnessy (Lorene), Lorna Putnam (Mary Jane) and Sidney “Chip” Putnam, Jr. (Evelyn); grandchildren Kathleen Kim, Morgan Reece, Brendan O’Shaughnessy and Ashlynn Putnam; also Justin Dixson; great granddaughters Ariya Kim, Georgia Reece and Bayla Kim; a sister, Cynthia Trudeau (Robert); nieces Holly Trudeau and Heidi Samec; brother-in-law Arthur Cole; Beals Island son, Darrell Kelley (Debbie). He was predeceased by his parents, Melvin C. Putnam and Kathleen M. (Casey) Putnam.

Memorial donations are suggested to Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church (SMCC) Steeple Fund, PO Box 249, Jonesport, Maine 04649 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 www.lovetotherescue.org .

A memorial service with Masonic Rites and Full Military Honors will be held in the chapel of Thomas Poteet at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023. The family will be receiving friends following the service. The live stream may be viewed at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY3OTkzODE3NjI0MzE4NCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com