NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Col. (Ret.) William C. Dow, 93, “put out to sea,” Saturday, March 4. He was a native of Milbridge and a resident at Mennowood Retirement Community.

He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, retiring from the Army Security Agency at Arlington Hall in May 1964 and from the National Security Agency at Fort Meade in 1977.

He was born Feb. 7, 1913, into a colorful family of sea captains, watermen and stonemasons. He was a fiercely independent Downeasterner, who never lost his Maine accent, or dry wit. In his youth, he sailed by the stars along Maine’s rocky coasts and wintered in the Algonquin Forest’s lumber camps.

After skipping seventh grade, he graduated from Milbridge High School at 16 and traveled the world with the Army and NSA, often to exotic places he could not talk about. His word was his bond, and he charted his own course to the end of his days. He was much loved and is dearly missed.

Surviving relatives include his wife of 56 years, Lorraine Dow; daughter, Stephanie Dow Hunter, son-in-law, Terry Hunter and grandson, Travis Dow Hunter, all of Seaford, Va.; sister, Beatrice Roberts (John) of Waterford; niece, Judy Goodell (Trenor) of York; and nephew, Col. (Ret) Tim Roberts (Elaine) of Kaneohe, Hawaii; among others.

His parents, William H. Dow and Jenny Norton Dow, son, Dr. (Maj.) Kevin Dow and eight brothers and two sisters predeceased him.

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