Richard (Dick) Norbert Plante, 87, of Fort Myers, Florida, formally of Paxton, passed away on January 21, 2017. He was the longtime owner-operator of Plante’s Auto Body in Spencer.

Born in Biddeford, Maine in 1929 as the eldest son of the late Norbert and Alice (Beaudet) Plante, Dick spent his early years working in the family’s fishing, clamming and lobstering business in Hills Beach, Maine and Vinalhaven, Maine. As a young man, Dick’s talent in automotive repair brought him to Worcester and employment at Brown’s Auto Body Shop where he advanced his auto body repair skills for his future business which he opened on Maple Street, Spencer in 1960. In 1966 he moved his business to a larger location on Main Street, Spencer where his building continues operations today. Dick retired in 1987 to Gilford, New Hampshire where he spent his summers fishing and boating on Lake Winnipesauke and winters in Fort Myers, Florida.

Dick is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Joy Plante (Barber), his three daughters, Darlene Wolcott and husband Brian of Charlton, Denise Burnham and husband Bruce of Conroe, Texas and Nadine Morancy of Spencer. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Crystal Morancy, Christopher Wolcott, Timothy Wolcott, Michelle Morancy and Jeffery Wolcott as well as one great-grandchild Keeghan Morancy-Ohrenberger. He was preceded in death by his brother Leo and leaves behind two sisters, Jeanette Roux and Madeleine Gemme and six surviving brothers Joseph, Maurice, Patrick, Norbert, Roger and Dennis Plante.

Services to be held Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 10:00AM at Mary, Queen of the Rosary Church, Spencer followed by grave side services and internment at the Worcester County Memorial Park Cemetery, Paxton.