1928 – 2014

LEWISTON — William (Bill) Pabst passed away at 4:15 on Thursday morning, Feb. 6, at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion Nursing Home in Lewiston.

Bill was born on July 3, 1928, in Jersey City, N.J. His parents were Viola (Renner) and William B. Pabst. He graduated from Cheltenham High School in Elkins Park, Pa., and attended Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. Bill was in the civil air patrol when he was in high school during World War II, where he flew on over 30 missions searching for German U-boats. Later he was a sergeant in the U.S. Army at the beginning of the Korean War and served time in Austria, where he was in an elite counter-intelligence unit.

Bill’s business career centered on selling, primarily in the Corfam Division of DuPont, where he spent 17 years. Upon retirement, he spent several years as a school bus driver and then teaching Driver’s Ed for high school students. During his school bus driving time he adopted a stuffed penguin which he named “Opus.” At that time he showed the students his penchant for being a joker. They held competitions to see who could take Opus home in the evening. When he drove the high school football team to games, he had a red carpet to welcome them back on the bus. All the kids loved him. Eventually he was teaching some classes in the schools and got many kids into pursuing animal studies.

Bill was a big sports fan!! He loved the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Blues and especially NASCAR. His favorite driver, of course, was Jeff Gordon (sponsored by DuPont).

Bill was always involved in community service; in his youth, Bill was an usher in his church. When his son was young, Bill was a serious Little League coach and he was a deacon in several churches. In addition, Bill was an avid fisherman and loved to travel with his Airstream trailer.

Bill is survived by his second wife, Patricia; and daughters, Marcia Gower and Karen Pabst-Framnes; and son, Chip (William E. Pabst Jr.). He also leaves son-in-law, Kjell Framnes; grandchildren, Darcy Pabst, Heather Pabst, Corey Gower, Justin Martinez, Olivia Framnes, Wendy Younk, Michelle Hale and Chrissy Ames; and great-grandchildren, Abby Martel, Cora Younk, Sara Younk, Nicholas Hale, MacKenzie Ames and Logan Ames.

Bill was predeceased by his first wife, Joyce; and daughter, Linda.


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