LEWISTON – Willie Romeo Rioux died at d’Youville Pavilion Nursing Home in Lewiston, on Saturday, July 16, following a long illness. He was 78 years old.

He was born in New Bedford, Mass., on Jan. 7, 1927, to the late Willie F. Rioux and Antoinette Roux. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1945 and then went on to serve overseas as a private in the U.S. Army during World War II.

On July 21, 1947, he married Germaine C. Pelletier in Lewiston.

He was employed by Philips Elmet in Lewiston for nearly 40 years, before retiring in 1990 at the age of 63. He worked as a die polisher and was active in the local Teamsters Union, serving for a time as union president.

He was an active member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Lewiston, serving in many capacities over the years – ranging from choir singer to parish council president and eucharistic minister.

He enjoyed singing, playing piano, playing pinochle and many board games, fishing and working on automobiles. He was a devoted husband and father.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Germaine; six sons, one daughter and their families, Philip W. and Carmen Rioux of Lewiston, William T. Rioux of Sabattus, Jean A. and David Hall of Buxton, Michael P. and Susan Rioux of Durham, Mark R. and Shari L. Rioux of Saco, Denis and Debra Rioux of Greene, and Stephen Rioux of Sarasota, Fla.; a sister, Irene Martin of Fayette; a brother, Maurice Rioux of Sabattus; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and 16 nieces and nephews.

The Rioux family would like to express their thanks to the nursing staffs at d’Youville Pavilion and Montello Nursing Home in Lewiston as well as the hospice nurses of Androscoggin for the dedicated and compassionate care they provided to Willie in the last years of his life.

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