BIDDEFORD — William J. “Buster” LaBelle Jr., 73, of Biddeford, died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Southern Maine Health Center in Biddeford.

He was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on Dec. 14, 1942, the son of William J. and Janet Snow LaBelle Sr. He was educated in North Andover, Massachusetts, schools, and graduated from North Andover High School in 1960.

As a young man, he was a Ford Motor Co.-trained mechanic and a registered hairdresser who taught ballroom dancing for the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. He also worked at Honeywell Systems, and played in a local band in the greater Lawrence area. He could fix your car, cut your hair and sing you a song, and was always ready to join you for a drink and socialize.

Mr. LaBelle came to the local area in the mid-1960s. He worked for Napa Auto Parts in Biddeford and General Dynamics in Saco, and was a bartender at the Biddeford Eagles. For many summers, he drove a delivery truck for White Star Laundry in Biddeford.

In the ’70s and ’80s, William was drummer for the Jimsonweed Rock Band. He was also a member of the Biddeford and Saco Eagles Clubs. William continued his auto mechanic skills throughout his adult life.

He is survived by: two sons, William J. LaBelle III of Portland, Oregon, and Christopher LaBelle of Dayton; one sister, Nancy Neff and her husband John of South Portland and Delray Beach, Florida; one brother, George A. LaBelle of Plum Island, Newbury, Massachusetts; his former spouse, Kathleen Valliere LaBelle of Hills Beach, Biddeford; many cousins, nieces and great-nieces; and a great-nephew.

Visiting hours will be 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford.

In lieu of flowers, donations in William’s memory may be made to: Stone Soup Food Pantry, P.O. Box 186, Biddeford, ME 04005.

To share condolences online, please visit HopeMemorial.com.


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