LEWISTON – Joseph L. Wailus, 86, of 94 Prospect Ave., died unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 30, at Central Maine Medical Center.

He was born in Auburn, March 25, 1918, the son of Thomas and Anastasia (Pilat) Wailus and had been a resident of this community all of his life.

He was employed as a maintenance man at General Electric, until his retirement. He was a member of the American Legion Post 22, and a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Church.

He served in the United States Army during World War II, as a medic in the European, African, and Middle Eastern fronts. He enjoyed traveling.

He married the former Fernande Lagasse on Aug. 1, 1942, and she died on Jan. 17, 1991.

He is survived by one son, Robert Wailus and his wife, Bernadette, of Lewiston; three sisters, Carol Crawford of Boca Raton, Fla., Louise Suleiman of New Albany, Ind., and Helen Rashad of Cambridge, Mass.; four grandchildren, Angela Davis and her husband, Willie, of Salinas, Calif., Christine Crowley of Lewiston, Michelle Booker of Burbank, Calif., and Robert J. Wailus and his wife, Ronicca, of Lewiston; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Peter and Henry Wailus.