NORWAY — William R. “Bill” Corning, 93, most recently of South Paris, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 12, following a brief illness. He also had been a resident of Vassalboro and Augusta, Maine, and Danvers, South Hamilton and Beverly, Mass.

Born in Boston, Mass., the son of Orin B. and Anna (Hamilton) Corning, he grew up in the Beverly, Mass., area, graduating from Essex Agricultural Institute in Danvers, Mass. His early employment included work in fruit orchards in Beverly, Mass., and operating an independent egg distribution route on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Early on in life, he became an active member of The Grange, and eventually became a lifetime member. Later in life, he became an insurance agent, working for Prudential Life Insurance Co. and Salem Five Savings Bank. He became recognized in his field and served as an instructor at numerous savings bank life insurance seminars and conferences.

On Aug. 2, 1941, he married Doris Colley and for many years they made their home in South Hamilton, Mass., where they were avid square dancers and members of The Grange. Following their mutual retirements, they lived briefly in Danvers, Mass., before moving to Augusta to be closer to family members living in Maine. There, Bill became an active member of the Augusta Kiwanis Club, earning the Kiwanis 25-Year Legion of Honor membership award and actively participating in the club’s Annual Television Auction. Until 2008, he also proudly participated in a Kiwanis-related men’s bowling league whose members were all over 70 years of age.

Following Doris’ death in 1992, he later married Rochelle (Dansereau) Meunier of Vassalboro where they became active members of the Vassalboro United Methodist Church and the Vassalboro Grange.

Following Rochelle’s death in 2008, he lived briefly at Park Residences Independent Living Center in Waterville before moving to South Paris to live with his son and family.

Bill was predeceased by his parents; his siblings, Reid, Lillian, Lloyd, Orin, John and his twin sister, Ethel, all of the Beverly, Mass., area.

He is survived by his daughter, Elaine Stanley and her husband, John, of Readfield; his son Dwight and his wife, Sue, of South Paris, and their children, Michelle Wheeler and her husband, Zak, Peter, Holly and Stephen Corning, and great-grandchildren, Maggie, Owen, McKenzie, Liam and soon-to-arrive Seamus Wheeler, all of South Paris; and many nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.khrfuneralhomes.com.


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