Norway – Willian Orrin Bancroft, 85, of South Paris, formerly of Albany, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, at Stephens Memorial Hospital. He had been a resident of the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris for the past eight years.

He was born in Waterford on Sept. 3, 1921, the son of Guy W. and Gladys Billings Bancroft. He attended Waterford schools and faithfully served his country in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, attached to the 379th Bomber Group.

He had been employed at A.C. Lawrence, worked on Stan Lord’s farm, worked for R.K. Brown driving truck and worked on the state highway crew in the town of Waterford.

He was a member of the Mundt-Allen Post in Bethel and the Floyd-Harlow VFW 9787 in South Paris. He enjoyed playing cribbage and beano. He married Phyllis Morrill Lapham on Nov. 23, 1955.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis of South Paris; a daughter, Judith Lapham Halle, and husband, Paul, of Lisbon Falls; a son, Richard Lapham of Galveston, Texas; two grandchildren, Stephanie Halle Krolak, and husband, Brian, of Brunswick and Gregory E. Halle of Lisbon Falls; three great-granddaughters, Abigail Krolak, Madison Krolak of Brunswick and Sydney Halle of Augusta; a sister, Agnes Lahti of Norway; and several nieces and nephews.

Special thank you to Sue Parsons as well as the staff of the Maine Veterans’ Home and Stephens Memorial Hospital for the wonderful care.