WELLS — William George Rhines, 86, of Wells, died Saturday, June 21, 2014 of complications following a stroke.

Mr. Rhines was born on June 9, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Robert and Genevieve Rhines.

He grew up in Goffstown, New Hampshire; served in the U.S. Naval Air Force; and held degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Newark College of Engineering, New York University Law School and the University of Southern Maine.

Mr. Rhines lived in Wells for 30 years. He was active in St. George’s Episcopal Church in York Harbor and St. David’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunk, and was instrumental in the formation of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm and the Laudholm Trust.

Before moving to Wells, Mr. Rhines and his family lived in Weston, Connecticut for 20 years. During that time, he was general counsel to the Huyck Corporation in Stamford, Connecticut and maintained a private law practice, specializing in patents.

He served as chairman of the Weston Historic District Commission, worked with the Nature Conservancy and served as Weston Little League commissioner. He was active in Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the Kiwanis Club. He was an accomplished potter, painter, clockmaker, gardener and student of many subjects, most recently spending his leisure time in the study and creation of religious icons.

Mr. Rhines is survived by: his beloved wife of 63 years, Joanne Nelson Rhines; six children, Rosemary Rhines Berwald of Campbell, California, Rebecca Rhines Huckabay and her husband George of Bethesda, Maryland, William Rhines Jr. and his wife Linda of Wells, Annamarie Rhines Corrales and her husband Fernando of Arlington, Virginia, Peter Rhines and his wife Holly of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, and Mark Rhines and his wife Elizabeth of Charlotte, North Carolina; and 12 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 138 York St., Kennebunk on Saturday, July 12 at 11 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Road, Auburn, ME 04210, www.gsfb.org.