Mervin Errold Chadbourne

Reverend Mervin E. Chadbourne, 94, known affectionately to friends and family as ‘Chad’ returned to God on August 16, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. Chad passed away at his home in Venice, Florida surrounded by members of his family.

Chad was born in Canaan, Maine in 1928. After graduating from Traip Academy in Kittery, Maine he joined the Army Air Corps in 1945. Aviation was his passion at an early age when he soloed in a J-3 Cub at age 16. While in the Army Air Corps, he was a flight engineer on C-47’s and C-54’s. He held a private pilot’s license and maintained his FAA certification as an airframe and power plant mechanic well into his senior years. While in the Army Air Corps, he worked as a flight engineer and flew in the Berlin Airlift of 1948. He was discharged from the United States Air Force as a Tech Sergeant. He never lost the thrill of that first flight.

When he retired to Venice, Florida he found the opportunity to volunteer at Agape Flights where he served as an aircraft mechanic and on the Board of Directors. On one occasion, an Agape plane went down in the Bahamas and Chad along with a staff mechanic flew there with parts to repair the aircraft. He worked for days in triple-digit heat on the tarmac. The plane made a safe trip back to Venice. Chad was in his 80’s when he did this.

Although Aviation was Chad’s passion, the ministry was his true vocation. He was working for General Electric Gas Turbine Division and serving in the New York Air National Guard when he first received his call to the ministry. He received his first license to preach in 1955 at the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Johnston, New York. This was just the first step in a lifetime of service to Christ and his Church which lasted for 67 years. His first Methodist connection was when he received his Local Preachers License from Greenville First Methodist Church of the East St. Louis District of Southern, Illinois.

Chad went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts from Greenville College in 1961, his Masters of Divinity from Emory University in 1964 and later worked on his doctoral studies at Boston University. A true Biblical scholar Reverend Chadbourne was versed in both Greek and Latin.

During his lifetime tenure in the United Methodist Church Reverend Chadbourne served wherever he was needed, in Maine, New York, Southern Illinois, Georgia and Florida. At one time, this included a ministry on Chebeague Island just off the coast of Portland, Maine. While serving his island ministry Chad supplemented his income by working as a lobsterman. He often used his lobster boat to transport parishioners’ back-and-forth from the island to the mainland.

During his ministry in Illinois Chad served as a Circuit Rider Pastor, sometimes having up to four churches, and also preached the old-time tent revival services. One of his final ministries was to teach an adult Sunday school class at Englewood UMC. He was able to do this in his 90’s and up until a few months of his passing. He also prayed faithfully with his church’s prayer group “Prayer, In His Presence”

He never retired from his calling!

A beloved husband and father, Chad is survived by his wife Helen Chadbourne of Venice, FL; his daughter Paula Berry and her husband Glenn, of Mt Vernon, IL, his son Scott Chadbourne and his wife Donna of Iuka, IL and his daughter Debra Chadbourne of Rome, NY. When he married Helen in 1997, he also became “Chad Dad” to Helen’s four daughters; Debbra Graves of Naples, ME, Donna Skilling and her husband Bradley of Gray, ME, Deanna Flanagan and her husband James of Naples, FL and Doreen Purcell of Gray, ME. Chad is also survived by 17 Grandchildren, 23 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great, Great Grandchildren!

Chad was pre-deceased by his sister Barbara Looser, his son Mark Chadbourne and his son-in-law Lloyd Graves.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Englewood United Methodist Church (700 E. Dearborn Street, Venice, Florida) on Thursday, September 8th, at 11:00 AM.

There will also be a Memorial Service at Empire Grove Camp Meeting Association in Poland, Maine on September 23rd, at 11:00 A.M.

There will be an Internment Service at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine on September 24th, at 11:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to either of these two charitable Causes:

Englewood United Methodist Church

Cuba Missions For Pastor’s Salaries

700 East Dearborn Street

Englewood, Florida 34223

Hospice Foundation

3550 S. Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, Florida 34293

To Benefit: Tidwell Hospice, Venice, Florida

As we say goodbye to a beloved friend, father, husband and Pastor we remember the words of Chad’s favorite Psalm:

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.