SOUTH PARIS — William Gene Bickford, 85, of Norway died Tuesday, July 10, following a brief illness.

Gene, as he was known to family and friends, was a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean War, only to return home and join the Maine State Police, following the example of his Uncle Gene Stevens. Following his retirement from law enforcement, Gene spent time serving as a commander of the American Legion in Maine, taking pride in traveling throughout Maine visiting its many legion posts. He was a member of the Norway Stone-Smart Legion Post #82. In his later years, Gene and his good friend Joe Cooney spent countless hours raising funds for the veterans’ activity fund at the South Paris Maine Veterans Home. It seems only fitting that Gene’s final days were spent under the skillful care of the Veterans’ Home staff.

Gene is survived by his wife of many years, Joyce; daughter, Amy Marshall, and her husband, Kevin, of Bryant Pond; son, Kendall, and his wife, Lori, of West Paris; son, William, and his wife, Wanda, of Poland; and daughter, Rebecca, of Augusta; grandchildren Heather, Kayla, Billy, Haley, Anna, Connor, Tasker, Tanner, Karen and Jonathan; and six great-grandchildren. Gene is also survived by two sisters: Patricia Howe and her husband, Douglas, of Portland, and Mary Labrecque and her husband, Michael, of Otisfield; sister-in-law, Judith, of Margate, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. Gene was predeceased by his daughter, Deborah, of Richmond, and his brother, Richard, of Margate, Fla.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com.

William Gene Bickford

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