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Maxwell Cain Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Aug. 8, 2011.

Maxwell Merrill Cain age 91of Birmingham, AL died August 6th, 2011 at home surrounded by family. He was born May 4th, 1920 in Jasper, Alabama Mr. Cain graduated from Walker High School in Jasper where he enjoyed playing football and basketball. In 1941, Max enlisted in the Army Air Force, trained as a pilot and ultimately obtained the rank of Captain. His first assignment was searching for submarines off the southeastern coast of Florida; he was later assigned to fly B-17 bombers for the 8th Air Force, 401st Bomb Group, 613th Bomb Squadron stationed in Deenethorpe, England. His plane was shot down on Aug 24th, 1944 over Weimar, Germany. Upon capture he was brought to a Luftwaffe hospital to recover from his battle wounds and later transferred to Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany as a POW for the remainder of the war. Upon returning home he attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on the G.I. Bill, earning a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Technology. He met his wife, Nell, when he saw her perform with the University's synchronized swim team, The Swan Club. Mr. Cain was employed for 34 years by Harbison Walker Refectories, retiring as General Manager and Division Vice President with responsibility for all manufacturing operations worldwide. During those years he served as a consultant to ALCOA, traveling to their South American operations in Suriname and as a technical liaison to Toshiba in Tokyo, Japan. As a second career he earned a Realtors license and worked with Norville Randolph specializing in commercial property. Max is survived by his wife of 64 years Dorothy Nell (Plott) Cain, their children: Robert Maxwell Cain (Molly Lay), Elizabeth Ellen "Betsy" Cain (David Kaminsky), Margaret Cain Adams (David), Samuel Tillman Cain (Amanda), his brother Terry Lindburg Cain, his sister Doris Cain and grandson Jonathan Blackwell Cain. He was preceded in death by his father Samuel Cain, mother Martha Terry Cain, his siblings Hazel Ottwell, Preston Cain, Alladean Tittle, Roselle Wood and Lucile Standeffer. He served on the Administrative Board of Fairfield Highlands United Methodist Church, the Christian Unity Commission District Council and was a member of First United Methodist Church in Birmingham. His civic service included Fairfield City Council and Chamber of Commerce; he was a member of Civitans Club, the Birmingham Management Association and served as Vice President and President of the Heatherwood Homeowners Association. Max was a self-trained fly fisherman with an eclectic style that always yielded fish on trips to the local lakes around Birmingham. He coached little league baseball from 1957 to 1962 and was instrumental in building a baseball park in the Glen Oaks subdivision of Fairfield. His understanding of the natural world was extensive and his acquired knowledge from geology, ornithology, plant taxonomy to weather patterns was supplemented by all the native skills he acquired as a boy growing up on the family farm in Jasper. He successfully imparted a love of this type of knowledge to his children to the extent that they all have an appreciation of the natural world that forms the core of their being, often surprising people by their ability, for example, to make weather calls or tell the difference between long-leaf and slash pines. In training during WW2, he was piloting a B17 returning from offshore to base in Clearwater, Florida. Flying 30 feet over the waves, they could see the crowded Clearwater beach as they approached land. The co-pilot suggested "let's impress the girls". "Hang on boys" Cain radioed his crew. As the giant craft approached the beach at what surely had to seem eye-level, people began to stand and point. When the B17 did not climb, people began to scatter. When they reached the beach Cain kicked the plane up and thoroughly blasted the beach with prop wash. The tailgunner yelled with delight, reporting umbrellas, towels, and blankets flying everywhere. The base commander's jeep was waiting for Cain and his co-pilot when he landed. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Maxwell M. Cain may be made to the Red Cross and/or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

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6 Entries

August 11, 2011

S. Haller

Dear Cain family,
I am so sorry to read of your loss. I did not know Mr. Cain personally but he sounds like quite a character who will be missed by many. I could not help but think of the scripture at Psalms 90:10 where it says "because of special mightiness they are eighty years". Obviously, Mr. Cain was especially mighty and no doubt gained much wisdom and insight in his lifetime. May "the God of all comfort" give you peace. Again, my sincere condolences.

August 11, 2011

Dear Betsy, Iam so sorry to learn of the death of your father. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting him, he sounds like one heck of a guy. What a exceptional life he had. God bless you and your family. You were always so kind to my parents .

Paula Butler Williams

August 11, 2011

tomas delbeck

Dear Betsy,

I am so very sorry. Please know that you are in my heart and my thoughts.

with much love,
tomas delbeck

August 9, 2011

Jenny Ellison

I used to work with Max at Norville-Randolph, Realtors. I always loved his war stories. I remember, also, his great love of golf! What a gentleman! He will be missed...

August 9, 2011

Sherry Wallace

Margaret & Family,
I am so sorry to here that your father passed away. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

August 9, 2011

Anita Butler

Dearest Cain Family,
Julia and I want to express our sympathy for the loss of Max. I had the pleasure of meeting the Cains on several occasions over the years at Betsy's art openings. I know he was very proud of all his children, and I am blessed to know your family. Betsy has been like a sister to me for many years and was like a daughter to my late mother and father, always there for me as a dearest friend. Betsy, David, Bob and Molly and my family have shared many wonderful and sad times together. We are with you in spirit. Much love to you all, Anita and Julia

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