LEWISTON – William “Bill” E. Mahar, 62, died on Nov. 13. Bill’s journey through life ended at Central Maine Medical Center after a courageous fight with a lengthy illness. He had resided at 1 Fortier Road, Lewiston since 1969.

He was born in Lewiston, on March 2, 1944, the son of Harry V. and M. Alyce Cullen Mahar. In his youth, he resided at the Poland Spring Resort and later moved to Lewiston. He spent several summers at the resort in Caddie Camp.

He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1962, and from Norwich University in 1966. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict as a commissioned officer at Ft. Knox, Ky. From 1966 to 1969, he served as a tactical officer and was later assigned to an armor division.

After his service to his country, he was a salesman for Carnation Foods, was an insurance agent for White and Harris Insurance and then for Whitmore Insurance, and retired from the state of Maine as a field advisor/auditor in 2004.

In 1967, he married the former Nancy Baron of Auburn. He was very proud of his son, Patrick, and enjoyed watching him play hockey and grow into a fine young man. In earlier years, he liked to hunt, fish and ski. His passion though was golf, which he missed during his illness. In addition he planned and accomplished a multitude of projects, was a voracious reader, and an avid fan of M*A*S*H* reruns.

He was particularly proud of the cottage he built in Mount Vernon, where he enjoyed many summers, especially when surrounded by his family.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend with a quiet sense of humor. He was a past member of IMANE, a longtime member of the Lewiston Lodge of Elks 371, where he served as treasurer, a member of several golf leagues, and a member of the Maine Association of Retirees.

He will be greatly missed by those who survive him: his wife, Nancy, of Lewiston; son, Patrick, and his wife, Suzanne, of Topsham; sisters, Margaret (Peg) Steck, and her husband, Charlie, of Ocala, Fla., Carol White, and her husband, Joe, of Chelmsford, Mass., Alyce St. Pierre. and her husband. Ted. of Danvers, Mass. and Susan Eads of Fayetteville, Ark.; one brother, Harry Mahar, and his wife, Mona, of Catharpin, Va.; granddaughters, Sage and Nora Mahar; stepgrandddaughter, Andrea DeCaro of Orono; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents.

The family wishes to extend its gratitude to the many friends, doctors, nurses and medical staff who cared for, encouraged and spiritually supported Bill during his long illness.