PORTLAND – William Lawrence Poole, 88, of Rayville Road, East Otisfield, died Friday, Dec. 3, at Maine Medical Center, Portland, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Cambridge, Mass., July 18, 1916, the son of Gardner and Sarah Poole. He spent his early years in Sudbury, Mass. He graduated from Lawrence Academy of Groton, Mass., and attended MIT before joining the Post Cereal Division of General Foods in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1940.

In 1944, he married Mary Jane Sullivan of Battle Creek. For the next 35 years, he was personnel manager for major divisions of General Foods, serving in Irwin, Pa., Houston, Texas, Evansville, Ind., Battle Creek, Mich., and White Plains, N.Y. He retired in 1974, moving with his family from Pound Ridge, N.Y., to Otisfield.

Mr. Poole served the Otisfield community as a member of various committees including the planning board and the Bell Hill Historical Society.

He was a member of the East Otisfield Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and elder, as well as treasurer, for many years.

An avid golfer, he was a member of the Poland Spring Golf Course. He was a lifetime member of the Descendants of the Mayflower Society, and the National Society of the Magna Charta Dames and Barons.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Jane; three daughters, Christine Kelley and her fianc, Bob Harris, of Otisfield, Deborah and her husband, Dr. August Valenti, of Poland Spring; Kathryn and her husband, Ted Majewski, of Sewall’s Point, Fla.; grandchildren, Peter and Mary Susan Kelley, Jonathan, Carolyn, and Timothy Valenti, and Michael and Daniel Majewski; great-grandchildren, Jackolyn Shremshock and Codi Rinehart; and great-great-grandchild, Calli Moore.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Roger and Richard.

Mr. Poole touched many lives, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.


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