LAS VEGAS, Nev. — William “Bill” Cordell of Henderson, Nev. and New Gloucester, died Thursday, May 11, in Las Vegas, Nev., after a brief illness.

Bill was born on Sept. 10, 1933, in Ashland, Ohio, one of three children of Clarence and Margaret (Hamilton) Cordell. He graduated from Ashland High School and shortly after high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served four years touring the world upon the USS Powell. He proudly earned the rank of first class petty officer in four years. He joked that he was seasick the entire four years.

He was a lifeguard while in high school and while in the Navy, he taught swimming. He worked for years at Saunders Associates in Portland as an electronic assurance engineer. In 1970, he joined the U.S. Postal Service as rural route carrier in Freeport until his retirement in 1993.

In 1985, he met the love of his life, Diane Lothrop Russell, and moved to New Gloucester. They married in March 1992 in Las Vegas. They bought a second home in Henderson, Nev., in 1999 and it became their winter home.

He enjoyed playing video poker, Sudoku, reading, traveling and gardening. He was a big fan of the Red Sox, New England Patriots and NASCAR racing.

He and Diane had been on many road trips and drove back and forth from Maine to Nevada many times, taking their time to see all the national parks and the beauty of America and Canada.

Bill challenged death on several occasions and was known as the miracle man by his doctors for surviving so many illnesses with no long-term effects.

Bill was a member of the Acadia Masonic Lodge No. 121 of Durham, past president of the Royal River Riders Snowmobile Club and a member of the Summit Springs Golf Course.

He is survived by his wife of New Gloucester and Henderson; daughters, Cheryl (Curt) Croxford of Pittston, and Carolyn (Jeff) Pollard of Raymond; stepchildren, Cindy (Bob) Martin, Lisa (David) Lee, Holly (Emery) Bubier, David Russell, all of Poland, and Gary (Wendy) Russell of Cary, N.C.; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and special friends, Nate and Nancy Weeks of Henderson, whom he fondly thought of as his family as well.

He was predeceased by his parents; three daughters, Cynthia, Linda and Kathy; and sisters, Nancy Vermillion and Connie VanMeter.

William “Bill” Cordell