SOUTH PORTLAND — William H. DeMille, 90, of South Portland, passed away at Togus Springs Hospice in Augusta on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, after a long illness. He was surrounded by his loving children.
William was born on May 28, 1924, to the late William Joseph and Amber Louise (Havener) DeMille in the town of Sanford. He was educated in Portland area schools and at Opportunity Farm in New Gloucester. He graduated in 1942 from Portland High School, at which time he enlisted in the Marine Corps. During WWII, he served with the 6th Marine Division and fought at Okinawa and Guam, where he was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart.
William married the love of his life, Edith (Gallupe), on Feb. 12, 1948. They enjoyed 66 years of married life, which included raising three kids and numerous pets, motorcycling and boating on Sebago Lake and around Casco Bay. He joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary in the 1980s and taught navigation at Portland Regional H.S. and at SMVTI (now Southern Maine Community College). Bill, as he was known by all, worked for the Coca Cola Bottling Plant on Main Street in South Portland for 42 years, retiring in 1989. He and Edith spent the next 17 years touring the country in their motor coach, wintering in Arizona and Florida. In 2003, they parked the motor coach and enjoyed a comfortable life in their South Portland home until Edith’s passing on March 8 of this year. They had a good life and he always referred to it as “One heck of a ride.”
William is survived by his daughter, Patricia Small of Casco; his sons, Billy DeMille of Nebo, N.C. and Jeff DeMille of Raymond; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at A.T. Hutchins Funeral and Cremation Services, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland.