WALES – Felix W. Hamel, 83, a resident of Andrews Road, Wales, died Monday, March 14, at his home.

He was born Feb. 4, 1922, in Bristol, N.H., the son of Walter and Emma (Bragg) Hamel. He attended schools in Bristol, N.H.

On Sept. 11, 1959, in Folkston, Ga., he married Marjorie M. Addison. They had been married 45 years. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing duty in the European theater. His unit was in the Ardennes Forest seeing action during the Battle of the Bulge. He always commented that it seemed he had walked across all of France during the course of the war. At the end of the war, he acted as an unofficial interpreter between the Russian troops and his own unit. His unit provided reinforcement, shortly after the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp.

He worked as an auto parts salesman for Bragg Auto in Augusta, C&G Auto in Lisbon Falls and Reggie’s Auto Supply in Lewiston. He enjoyed stock car racing, NASCAR racing and also horse racing. He was known to tinker on everything he owned.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of Wales; two sons, Felix “Rocky,” of Bangor and Duane and his wife, Colleen, of Wales; a daughter, Lori Blier and her husband, Paul, of Wales; one brother, M. Wayne Hamel and his wife, Audrey, of Hill, N.H.; four granddaughters, Ashley, Renae and Brianna Hamel and Ilea Blier; and four grandsons, Heath Blier, Nick Hamel and Michael and Jacob Burnham.

He was predeceased by his brother, Edward Hamel.