FARMINGDALE— Paul E. Hayden, son of the late Charles and Beatrice Hayden, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2026, at the age of 95, following a brief illness. He was a kind, gentle man, a true gentleman whose sharp scientific mind, endless curiosity, boundless generosity, and deep devotion to his family defined nearly a century of a remarkably full and fabulous life.

Born on May 6, 1931, in Fort Fairfield, Maine, Paul’s early years were shaped by resilience, hard work, and the tight-knit warmth of a large Maine family. Following the tragic passing of his father, Charles, in a farming accident, Paul’s mother, Beatrice, moved the family to the Augusta-Gardiner area. They lived and worked on the Webb family dairy farm in Pittston, where Paul and his siblings attended the Colburn School, a historic one-room schoolhouse built in 1815. The family eventually settled at 11 Central Street in Randolph, the home that would become the heart of many cherished family stories. Paul often spoke with profound admiration of his mother’s faith and sacrifice, recalling how she gathered her five young children every Sunday morning to walk across the Randolph/Gardiner bridge to attend services at the Winter Street Baptist Church. When Beatrice passed away at the young age of 36 as Paul was entering high school, his 17-year-old sister, Ella, alongside her future husband, Winston (Winnie) Shepard, and "Grampy Shep," stepped forward to keep the younger siblings housed, protected, and loved. Growing up in the post-Depression era, Paul and his brother Charles worked long, grueling days on the Burt Jamison property, clearing rocks from fields, tending livestock, and guiding plows behind massive workhorses. Yet Paul’s youth was also filled with outdoor adventures: hunting, fishing, exploring the woods along the Kennebec River, swimming at The Oaks in Gardiner, and riding ice chunks down the river with his brother Charles, the Teed brothers (Cecil and Mont), and George Shaw. Paul graduated from Gardiner High School in 1951, where he played football and basketball, served as editor of The Quill, and served in the National Guard (Company M, 103rd Infantry).

With the outbreak of the Korean War in the summer of 1950, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Navy following graduation, attending boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes alongside his lifelong friend Delmont “Mont” Teed. Paul served as a machinist aboard the destroyer USS Ault (DD-698), providing operational screening, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and a naval presence across the Pacific, Far East, and Mediterranean while circumnavigating the globe. It was during his Navy service that Paul taught himself to play the guitar, a gift that would bring music into his home for decades to come. Upon completing his naval service in 1954, Paul moved to California to attend Northrop Aeronautical Institute, laying the foundation for a career in engineering and aviation. Returning home to Maine, he reunited with the love of his life, Mary Joanne "Joan" Coro. They were married at the Winter Street Baptist Church in Gardiner, with Mont Teed standing as best man. They purchased a newly built home on Park Street in Hayford Heights in Farmingdale, where they settled for the rest of their lives, raising a family and building a home filled with warmth and hospitality. Paul held immense love and respect for Joan throughout their 65 years of marriage. Paul enjoyed a distinguished 32-year career as an engineer with the Maine Department of Transportation, retiring in 1989 before working an additional 15 years with Casey Godfrey Engineering.

Paul’s fascination with aviation began in childhood as he watched WWII fighters and bombers fly overhead and was cemented when his mother walked him down to the frozen Kennebec River for an airplane ride with Bill Perry of Maine Instrument Flight who was offering rides in a 1940s J-3 Cub. Bill Perry would later teach Paul to fly, setting off a lifelong aviation career during which Paul served as a commercial charter pilot and flight instructor. Over the years, Paul flew notable figures, including Ted Williams and Van Johnson in his beloved V-tail Bonanza N3077D, as well as Senator Edmund Muskie and Governor John Reed in the State of Maine Twin Beech N41ME. Decades later, Bill Perry would also issue a pilot's license to Paul's son, Scott. A foundational pillar of Maine's experimental aviation scene, Paul was a founding member of Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 87. In 1960, he partnered with fellow aviator Al Tate to build a fully aerobatic, single-seat biplane known as "Little Toot" (N920Z) from scratch right in his basement. The four-year labor of love captured national attention, earning the coveted Best Homebuilt title at the 13th Annual EAA International Fly-In Convention in Oshkosh. Paul possessed a sharp scientific mind, constantly analyzing how things were made and breaking complex processes down into their foundational parts. Paul’s ingenuity knew no bounds. Combining his early experiences working with Winnie and Grampy Shep at Shepard’s Garage, his Navy machinist training, and his engineering background, there was little he couldn't design, build, or repair. Paul’s favorite saying was a quote from Richard Bach, "Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours.” After completing his aircraft, he turned his workshop into a woodworking haven. Long before store-bought kayaks were common, he hand built both a single-seat and two-seat kayak for fishing trips on Cobbossee Stream. He remodeled the family home, built a greenhouse, erected basketball hoops, and crafted custom desks, chairs, and bookcases that still adorn the homes and yards of his children and grandchildren. If a neighbor’s snowblower broke down in a snowstorm, Paul was in their driveway fixing it; if a neighborhood kid wanted a go-kart or minibike, he built one. He was truly the last of a self-reliant, generous generation.

Above all else, Paul’s greatest passion was his family, and he was a loving father figure to far more kids than just his own. Though his aviation achievements were vast, his love for Joan, his children, and his grandchildren surpassed everything. He was fully present for every chapter of their lives, never missing a game, a recital, a science fair, or a Hall-Dale sporting event. His commitment to local youth went above and beyond: Paul was a founding member and coach of the Hall-Dale Pee Wee Football League. To ensure the kids in his community had what they needed to play, he selflessly mortgaged his own home to purchase all the equipment required to outfit two complete football teams. Paul passed his love of music to his sons, filling the home with regular family jam sessions. He created a lifetime of traditions, leading annual family climbs up Mount Katahdin, camping trips to Aunt Dot’s campsite in the great Maine woods, snowmobiling outings, and skiing adventures both at Silver Hills and right on the front lawn. As his children grew, Paul and Joan spent their golden years traveling extensively throughout the United States and Europe. A passionate lifelong scholar and student of American history and ideals, Paul was an avid reader whose home was filled with books on the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and world history. As a proud 32nd Degree Mason, he exemplified brotherhood and civic duty throughout his life, remaining an active, vibrant role model and hero to his children, grandchildren, and entire community throughout his 95 years.

Paul was predeceased by his beloved wife of 65 years, Mary Joanne Hayden; his parents, Charles Hayden and Beatrice Hayden (Tibbitts); his sister Ella Shepard and her husband Winston; his sister Erma Kendrick and her husband Cyrus; his sister Dorothy Perkins and her husband Ernest; his brother Charles Hayden; and his wife Kinuyo (Kay) Hayden, and his half-sister June Runnels Smith.

He is survived by his three children: son Russell Hayden, daughter Cathy Hayden, and son Scott Hayden and his wife Lori; his cherished grandchildren, Erin Gamache, Jessica Hayden, Amanda Hayden, and Matthew Hayden; and great grandchild Amelia, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

The Hayden family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated CNAs, nurses, hospice workers, and doctors at Gray Birches for their gentle and compassionate care of Paul. They also express their deep love and gratitude to the extended family for their steadfast support throughout Paul's life.

In accordance with Paul's wishes, there will be no traditional funeral services. A military graveside service to honor and celebrate his life will be held in the spring at the Maine Veterans Cemetery.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, www.staplesfuneralhome.com