WEST BATH – William Arthur Bruce, 87, passed away peacefully at home Nov. 16, 2022 with his family nearby.

Born to William Allison Bruce Jr. and Mary Maude Larrabee July 31, 1935 in Bath. As a member of the class of 1953 Morse High School, active in football, track and basketball. Bill graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and worked for many years at Dillingham Funeral Home, in Auburn. He served as a camp counselor in his high school years and later became an associate with the Pine Tree Society, eventually serving on their board of directors. Bill married Eleanor Mynahan in 1958, his wife of 59 years before her passing in 2017.

In 1958 Bill established Allied Medical Services, the first private ambulance service in the Lewiston-Auburn area. He later owned and managed several rental properties in Lewiston, moonlighted as an income tax consultant and worked as a life insurance agent. He began his higher education at Bates College, eventually transferring to the University of Maine, receiving a B.S. in business administration in 1969, and a master’s degree from UMaine in rehab counseling in 1982. In 1966 he began his career with the State of Maine Department of Human Resources, retiring in 1995 as a regional manager, maintaining long term friendships with his coworkers.

In 1972 he returned to Bath with his family to a home he built in Brigham’s Cove, West Bath. He fished for lobsters, sailed his sloop the Endeavor around Merrymeeting Bay, jogged, biked and learned scuba diving. After retirement Bill spent 24 winters at a home that he built in Abaco, Bahamas, aptly named the Last Resort and with Eleanor, became an integral part of the island community.

A devoted father to his six children, Mary Wallace of West Bath, Martha Hart of Waterville, Joanne Powers, Michael Bruce and William Bruce III also of West Bath and Mark Bruce of Gray. Survived by his only sister, Nancy Noftall of Woolwich and sister-in-law, Phyllis Theberge of Lewiston. Blessed with 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit Desmond Funeral Home in Bath on Monday, Nov. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m., funeral services Tuesday at 11 a.m.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit http://www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,

donations to the

Pine Tree Society

(pinetreesociety.org).

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