BOWDOIN – William E. “Bill” Byras Sr. died Thursday, Dec. 22, in his home after a battle with mesothelioma. His family was by his side.

He was born Nov 16, 1933, in Lewiston, a son of Andrew Byras Sr. and Helen (Cummings) Byras.

If you have ever taken a ride through Bowdoin, chances are he waved and smiled at you as you drove by. On any day that the weather was fair and the Red Sox were not on TV, he was usually outside staying busy – “puttering” was what he usually called it. Even if he didn’t know you, had you stopped in, he would have stopped what he was doing to talk with you and offer you a soda, or even a beer.

Bill was raised in Bowdoin, attending local schools and growing up in a large family on a farm. Here he cultivated his love for hunting and fishing and the outdoors, often doing those things with family members and close friends. He worked at BIW for more than 40 years, working his way to supervisor at the Hardings Plant. He was an accomplished pipe fitter and welder. He earned several management and cost reduction achievement certificates before he retired. When he and his wife, Ernestine, were first married, he often worked a part-time job, too – anything from driving a dump truck to selling Christmas Trees in Boston on the weekends.

Bill, Ernestine, and their son, Bill Byras Jr., lived in Brunswick for a short time before moving back to the farm and building their own house in Bowdoin. Bill raised beagles, often winning trophies for rabbit hunting with the local Beagle Club. He was able to grow virtually anything – and often had a garden with enough vegetables to share with his family. Bill and Ernestine enjoyed going dancing at the local dances, taking the occasional vacation, and going to Foxwoods to play slot machines. He also greatly enjoyed being the one who people could turn to when they needed something welded, rebuilt or fixed.

Most of all, he enjoyed the company and importance of his loving family: his son and daughter-in-law, granddaughters and two great-grandsons. He enjoyed sharing a 4th of July spaghetti lunch with his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and extended family. You were expected to make yourself at home.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Ernestine, of 54 years; son, William Byras Jr. and wife, Pamela, of Bowdoin; two granddaughters, Stephanie Bernier and husband, Paul, of Richmond, and Michele Byras-Chase and husband, Kevin, of Topsham; two greatgrandsons, Joseph and Sean Bernier of Richmond; a sister, Joanne Couture and husband, George, of Bowdoin; two brothers, George David Byras and wife, Karen, of Litchfield, and Dennis Byras of Bowdoinham; and many loving nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; a daughter, Linda Lee; a sister, Doris Gerlek and husband, Mike; two brothers, Kenneth Byras and wife, Helen, and Andrew Byras Jr.