Obituary: Winthrop Noel Smith
Maine lumberman Winthrop Noel Smith dies at 92, survived by six children and eight grandchildren
Scarborough, Aug. 30, 2026 – Winthrop Noel “Win” Smith, a long‑time resident of the Maine coast and a stalwart of the state’s lumber industry, passed away peacefully at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough on Sunday afternoon. The 92‑year‑old left behind a legacy of entrepreneurship, community service and devotion to family.
Smith was born on Christmas Day, 1933, in Paris, France, to Elinore McLane Smith of Baltimore and James Hopkins Smith of Portland, Maine. The family returned to Maine after the early death of his mother, and he grew up in Falmouth surrounded by Casco Bay’s waters. A lifelong love of sailing and boating shaped his childhood and later business ventures.
He attended Fay School, then Phillips Academy in Andover, before earning a degree from Harvard University in 1956. Following graduation, Smith enlisted in the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Tokyo, Japan. After his discharge, he entered the lumber trade, working in sales for Rufus Deering, a retail lumber company owned by his brother’s in‑law. In 1961, he took a bold step and leased a mill in Limington, founding the Limington Lumber Company.
Smith met his wife Peg while skiing in Sugarloaf in 1961, and the two married, building a partnership that would last 60 years. Their family grew to six children—Winthrop Jr., Christopher, Margaret, Sarah, James Hopkins Jr., and Daniel—and 12 grandchildren. The couple lived most of their lives in Gorham, with a deep attachment to Carrabassett Valley and the surrounding mountains.
In 1967, Smith expanded his operations by purchasing a new mill site in East Baldwin. He built, owned, and ran a lumber manufacturing plant that remained in the family for over four decades. The company weathered the economic turbulence of the 1970s and early 1980s, recovered from a devastating saw‑mill fire, and emerged into the 21st century through careful capital investments and disciplined management. His eldest son, Win Jr., helped guide the firm through this transition.
Beyond his business achievements, Smith was deeply involved in Maine’s lumber community. He served as president of the New England Lumbermen’s Association (NELA), and held directorships with the Maine Forest Products Council (MFPC) and the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA). In local civic life, he sat on the Gorham appeals board for multiple terms. He was known for his quiet generosity, often giving anonymously to causes he and his wife championed.
Smith’s personal life was marked by a devotion to family. He was described by friends and employees as a steady, approachable leader who balanced a demanding work schedule with thoughtful care for his wife, providing her morning tea before heading to the mill. He encouraged his children’s careers and was an avid supporter of their endeavors.
In addition to his professional commitments, Smith enjoyed skiing and the outdoors, cultivating a lifelong tradition of “Sugarloafers” within his family. In later years he took pleasure in gardening, landscaping his country home, and rekindling his love of golf and travel. He and Peg made many trips to Ireland, traveled with their youngest son to golf courses, and completed a bucket‑list visit to Northern California’s old‑growth forests.
He is survived by his wife, Peg; his children—Winthrop Jr. with wife Allison, Christopher, Margaret, Sarah with husband Brandon, James Hopkins Jr., and Daniel—plus eight grandchildren, including Kellen and Emma, Brendon and Emma, Connor, Daniel and Ryan, and Summer and Porter. His sisters Jane McLane Moody, Katherine Dana Smith Poole, Elinore Bowdoin Bolton, and Cecelia Bowdoin Hill Gardner, as well as brothers James Hopkins Smith Jr. and Morton Smith, predeceased him.
The Smith family extends heartfelt thanks to Maine Medical Center and Hospice of Southern Maine for their compassionate care. A Christian burial service will be held at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. A reception will follow at the Portland Country Club, 11 Foreside Road, Falmouth.
Condolences may be shared online at http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com. Family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of choice.
