NORWAY – Richard R. Willette, 78, retired U.S. Marine Corps, died Friday, Dec. 24, at Stephens Memorial Hospital.

Born in Presque Isle, Dec. 31, 1925, the son of Joseph and Alice Cassidy Willette, he attended Presque Isle schools, prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942.

He was a career marine, serving for 26 years through World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, retiring as a master-gunnery sergeant, USMC.

For the last 10 years he made his home in Norway, where his good neighbors, Tom and Sue Knight became family to him and Richard held them in high esteem. Stanley and Arlene Allen were close friends too.

He is survived by one brother, Llewellyn Willette, of Portland; a stepdaughter, Heidi Adamski and her husband, Martin, and her two children, all of Florida; though he is survived by many nieces and nephews, “Uncle Dick” had a special bond with niece, Maggie Willette Glick, and two nephews, Dennis Willette and Frank Kane. He will be missed dearly.

He was predeceased by six sisters and five brothers; Dorothy Mulkern, Phyllis Burns, Delores Gorwood, Avis Kane, Marjorie Curry, Patricia Allen, Thomas Willette, Charles Willette, Robert Willette, Joseph Willette and Dana Willette.