NEWRY – Willard “Bill” Wight, 87, of Newry, died Nov. 17, at the Ledgeview Living Center after a battle with cancer.

He was born in Newry on Dec. 14, 1917, the son of Fred W. and Ida M. (Littlehale) Wight. He attended school in Newry and graduated from Gould Academy as a member of the Class of 1935 and attended two years of college at the University of Maine at Orono.

He was a World War II veteran, having served his country for four years in the U.S. Army 70th Infantry Division. He received a Purple Heart after being injured in France.

On June 6, 1943, he married Sylvia T. Barnett in Rumford. He and his family lived in Old Town for 20 years, where he was a member of the Federated Church of Stillwater.

He was employed by the Maine Forest Service for more than 28 years and retired as the Eastern Regional Supervisor in 1973. After his retirement, he moved back to the family farm in Newry. He became active in town affairs and served as a town of Newry selectman for 20 years. He was also a member of the Newry Volunteer Fire Department, Newry Grange, A.F. & A.M. 97 of Bethel, American Legion of Bethel, Bethel Historical Society and the Newry Community Church.

He was an avid snowmobiler for more than 30 years and held various offices with the Windy Valley Snowmobile Club and the Maine Snowmobile Association.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Sylvia; two sons, Stephen W Wight and his wife, Marlene, of Old Town, and David L. Wight and his wife, Anne, of Greenbush; one daughter, Gretchen Strauss and her husband, William, of Waterford; six grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Rachel, Stephanie, Julie and Melissa; four great grandchildren; and one brother, F. Owen Wight of Newry.

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