AUGUSTA – William (Bill) Merrill White Jr., 82, of Oquossoc, son of William Merrill White and Frances Mildred Atwood, died Aug. 29, at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

He was born May 30, 1926, at home in Waban, Mass., and grew up in Newton/Waban, Mass., attended Anger Elementary School and Newton High School. Bill was accepted to Harvard University prior to enlisting in the Navy. He did basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station (WI) from where he was accepted into OCS at Webb Institute of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and won top honors (he requested a complete Modern Library collection rather than the prestigious naval architecture book that was customarily awarded). He entered Harvard after World War II was over, declining some of his credits from Webb so that he could spend three years at Harvard from which he graduated summa cum laude.

His working career was with Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. in Hartford, Conn. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in 1958. After 32 years, he retired in 1981, as director of Government Relations meeting in Washington, D.C., with Connecticut’s Congressional delegation and Insurance Industry leaders.

He was generous with his time. He was a representative from West Hartford, Conn., to the Greater Hartford (CT) transportation district and served as chairman for many years; at CG he was active in the ‘People to People’ program; he recorded for Books for the Blind; appeared as “Conductor Bill” for Connecticut Public TV fundraising programs; participated on the board of the Greater Hartford YMCA.

Music, the theater and playing the piano were among his favorite pastimes. He was an avid reader and a racquets player-tennis, squash, paddle tennis. Golf and skiing were also high on his list of recreation. After retirement and a move to Rangeley in 1992, he continued his interests in tennis, golf, reading, music and active participation in the Rangeley Friends of the Arts productions, and his church. He enjoyed the English language and would create limericks for any occasion. He had a sharp wit and a “punny” way with words.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Marcia Marie Picard, whom he married Jan. 14, 1961 at Bristol, Conn.; they have four children and nine grandchildren, Andrea married to G. Frederick Wadlington and their children Anna Marie and Marcus Alexander of Jeffersonville, Vt., Jennifer and her children William Roland Atwood, Daniel Allen Atwood and Leah Paige Atwood of Ada, Minn., Dana Merrill married to Tamara Lynn Moore and their children Michael Alexander Merrill and Sarah Michelle of Spring Hill, Tenn., and Cynthia married to Keith Andrew Runge and their children Katherine Abigail and Benjamin Christopher of Oakville, Conn.; a nephew, Phillip Bradley White married to Jan Nebus and their son Nathan of Naples, Fla.; a niece, Julia Frances White and her children Sarah and Gwen Yale of Wauconda, Ill.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Merrill Atwood White; and a nephew, Daniel Yale.