AUGUSTA - Donald W. Fraser, 84, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. He was born Dec. 8, 1924, in Gorham, N.H., the son of Melvin and Blanche (Blowers) Fraser. Don grew up in Richmond, where he attended Richmond schools. Don entered the Army in 1943 where he served overseas, mostly in Africa and Italy. He was honorably discharged in 1947. Don worked for the VA at Togus for about 35 years, which he retired from at age 55. Don's passion was playing his harmonica. He taught himself to play when he was a young boy. In his later years, he played at some of the local country-and-western shows, attended several harmonica conferences out of state, and volunteered his musical talent at some of the local nursing homes which he enjoyed doing as many as the folks loved hearing him play. He liked camping with the family when his children were young. Later, he and his wife Gloria bought some property in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Don built a camp on the property over a number of years with some help from a few friends from Maine who also owned properties there. He and Gloria, along with one of their grandchildren, were some of the first people to cross -- on foot -- the nine-mile bridge from Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick before the bridge opened to vehicle traffic. Other things Don had done during his lifetime were candlepin bowling on the Togus league, playing a 'mean' game of horseshoes and square dancing. Donald was predeceased by both his parents and his in-laws. Don is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gloria; his three daughters, Lori Hallett, of Palermo, Sally Dickinson, of Augusta, and Vicki Loubier, and her husband, Paul, of Weeks Mills; three grandchildren, Erika and Zachary Loubier, and Valerie Dickinson and a great-granddaughter, Amaya Geroux. He also had a sister and a brother, Fern Breton, of South Portland, and Vernon Fraser and his wife, Arlene, of New Brunswick, Canada; two half-brothers, William Lord and his wife, Barbara, of Arizona, and Hugh Chapman and his wife, Lynn, of Gilead; along with several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, Aug. 28, at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta, where a celebration of Don's life will take place at noon after the visiting hours. A committal service with full military honors, to be held graveside, will follow at 1 p.m. at the new Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be made to a charity of your choice. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.khrfuneralhomes.com