Irving Gilbert Oak

1901–1981 · Male

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Male or Female is the sex recorded in the family tree file, not a description of gender; it is left out where the tree does not record it. Age at death is worked out from the dates shown: exact when both dates are exact, otherwise a range (73 or 74) or “about”. It is left out when a date is missing, open-ended or conflicting, or when the dates would make someone older than 110, and when the research has labelled one of the dates Unconfirmed. People who may be living have no summary.

Family data snapshot: 09-24-2026 Read-only collection from the Oak Family Tree. Research incorporated 09-25-2026 (revision 90e7f7b2). Updated periodically.

Overview

Elizabeth "Lizzie" B. Evans Ames (Oak)1874–1936Mother George Franklin Oak1873–1923Father

Irving Gilbert Oak1901–1981Natalie Mildred Russell Oak1902–1948Wife

Donald Russell Oak1930–1930Son Wendell Merle Oak1927–2010Son Allan Eugene Oak1925–2012Son Iris May Oak1931–1931Daughter

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Family

Parents

Mother: Elizabeth "Lizzie" B. Evans Ames (Oak) 1874–1936
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean
Father: George Franklin Oak 1873–1923
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the family's own chart (a family account); not yet checked against records.
Records:
- Family chart supplied by the site's owner (a family account)
Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: family account.
What the labels mean

Wife: Natalie Mildred Russell Oak 1902–1948
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Son: Donald Russell Oak 1930–1930
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean
Son: Wendell Merle Oak 1927–2010
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean
Son: Allan Eugene Oak 1925–2012
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean
Daughter: Iris May Oak 1931–1931
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Life events

Born	25 AUG 1901, Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America Unconfirmed evidence: show why Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. Records attached in the tree: 1930 United States Federal Census 1950 United States Federal Census Maine, U.S., Death Index, 1960-1997 1910 United States Federal Census Social Security Death Index 1940 United States Federal Census 1920 United States Federal Census U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current Review: not yet reviewed. What the labels mean
Died	30 SEP 1981, Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America Unconfirmed evidence: show why Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. Records attached in the tree: U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current Maine, U.S., Death Index, 1960-1997 Social Security Death Index Review: not yet reviewed. What the labels mean
Also recorded as	Irving Gilbert "Irve" Oak; Irving G Oak
Residence	1910, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine
Residence	1910, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA
Residence	1920, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine
Residence	1920, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA
Marriage	23 JUL 1925, Portland, Maine
Marriage	23 JUL 1925, Portland, Maine
Marriage	2 JUL 1925, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA, with Natalie Mildred Russell Oak 1902–1948
Marriage	1 JUL 1925, Wesserunsett, with Natalie Mildred Russell Oak 1902–1948
Marriage Nellie and Irvin Oak	23 JUL 1925, Portland, Maine
Occupation	Lineman for the Central Maine Power Company, 1925-1950, Skowhegan, Maine Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Named as a Central Maine Power Company lineman in a 1925 marriage notice and in the 1941 and 1942 newspaper reports (images read in the R7 research); census and directory entries of 1930-1950 fit. Not proof of continuous service. Records: Evening Express (Portland, Me.), 1925: marriage notice naming Irving Gilbert Oak, a Central Maine Power Company lineman (clipping) (view at Newspapers.com) Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 6 Oct 1941, p. 9: a Central Maine Power lineman burned at the South Channel dam; 'a fellow worker, Irvin Oak, took the injured man to the hospital'. page image read by the researcher; not retained in the package (view at Newspapers.com) Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 24 Feb 1942, p. 12: 'Irvin G. Oaks To Be Presented Safety Medal' (view at Newspapers.com) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. What the labels mean
Death of son Donald R Oak	10 FEB 1930, Waterville, Maine
Residence	1930, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine
Residence	1930, Skowhegan, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA
Residence	1935, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine
Irvin Oak poll bearer	23 JAN 1939, Waterville, Maine
Residence	1939, Waterville, Maine, USA
Residence	1940, Waterville, Maine, USA
Residence	1 APR 1940, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, United States
Residence	1940, Skowhegan Town, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA
Rescue	Revived a fellow Central Maine Power lineman after an electrical accident, using the Schaefer prone-pressure method of artificial respiration, 1941, South Channel dam, Skowhegan, Maine Confirmed evidence: show why Why: As the Morning Sentinel's report of his award (24 Feb 1942) describes it (image read in the R7 research). Records: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 24 Feb 1942, p. 12: 'Irvin G. Oaks To Be Presented Safety Medal' (view at Newspapers.com) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. What the labels mean
Rescue	Took an injured fellow lineman to hospital after he was burned by a power line; probably the accident for which Irving was later honoured, 5 Oct 1941, South Channel dam, Skowhegan, Maine Likely evidence: show why Why: The Morning Sentinel of 6 Oct 1941 reports the accident and names 'Irvin Oak' (page read by the researcher, not retained). That the medal was for this accident is Likely: the award report says 'last summer', gives a different voltage and says the man was knocked unconscious, which the October report says he was not. Records: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 6 Oct 1941, p. 9: a Central Maine Power lineman burned at the South Channel dam; 'a fellow worker, Irvin Oak, took the injured man to the hospital'. page image read by the researcher; not retained in the package (view at Newspapers.com) Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 24 Feb 1942, p. 12: 'Irvin G. Oaks To Be Presented Safety Medal' (view at Newspapers.com) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. What the labels mean
Award	Awarded the National Safety Council's President's Medal for saving a life, Feb 1942, Skowhegan, Maine Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Morning Sentinel, 24 Feb 1942, reporting the award (image read in the R7 research). It was the National Safety Council's medal, not the electric industry's: Central Maine Power's first Edison Electric Institute medal came in 1952. Records: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 24 Feb 1942, p. 12: 'Irvin G. Oaks To Be Presented Safety Medal' (view at Newspapers.com) EEI Bulletin, Feb 1953: Central Maine Power's first Edison Electric Institute resuscitation medal (1952 case) (view at Internet Archive) (context) Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research. What the labels mean
Award	Medal presented at a special meeting, as announced that morning, 24 Feb 1942, Skowhegan Rotary Club, Skowhegan, Maine Likely evidence: show why Why: The 24 Feb 1942 report announces the presentation for that day; at least six Maine papers carried the award on 25-26 Feb, but only their headlines have been seen. Records: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 24 Feb 1942, p. 12: 'Irvin G. Oaks To Be Presented Safety Medal' (view at Newspapers.com) Maine newspapers of 25-26 Feb 1942 reporting the award (Morning Sentinel, Bangor Commercial, Evening Express, Kennebec Journal, Brunswick Times Record, Bangor Daily News): headlines only, texts not yet read Review: assessed 09-24-2026; evidence: image inspected in the saved research; index or transcription, as reported in the saved research. What the labels mean
Residence	Occupation: Lineman; Relation to Head of House: Head; Marital Status: Widowed, 1950, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA
Residence	BEF 1951, Maine
Burial	Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America
Residence	Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine

Research notes

Newspapers spelled his name Irvin G. Oaks, Irvin G. Oakes and Irvin Oak. The rescue is also remembered in the family; the newspapers confirm its core.

Sources

Social Security Death Index Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Birth, Death, Residence
Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File
Maine, U.S., Death Index, 1960-1997 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Birth
U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current Burials and memorials Citation only Birth
1910 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine; Roll: T624_546; Page: 12B; Enumeratio…
1920 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine; Roll: T625_648; Page: 1A; Enumeration…
Ohio, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2022 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Birth, Death, Residence
Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics; Columbus, OH, USA; Index to Annual Deaths, 1958-2018
1930 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine; Roll: 839; Page: 22A; Enumeration Dis…
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 Directories and public records Scan: family sign-in Residence
1940 United States Federal Census Census Transcription Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine; Roll: T627_1492; Page: 18A; Enumerati…
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 Directories and public records Transcription Scan: family sign-in Residence
1950 United States Federal Census Census Scan: family sign-in Birth, Residence
National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year:…
Maine, U.S., Death Index, 1960-1997 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Death
U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current Burials and memorials Citation only Death
Maine, U.S., Death Index, 1960-1997 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 Directories and public records Scan: family sign-in
U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current Burials and memorials Citation only Burial
U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current Burials and memorials Citation only

Research sources

Living relatives, and relatives whose living status is uncertain, appear here by name only or not at all. Family members can sign in for them and for photos, documents and records that are not public.

From the family tree, with the research incorporated so far. Each relationship and main fact carries a label: Confirmed, Likely or Unconfirmed. Tree entries that nobody has reviewed yet are Unconfirmed. Open a label to see why, the records and when it was reviewed. How sure is each statement?