Known as Bill to his friends and family, he was born in London, England on July 28, 1921, to William E. and Salina H. Wiseman. Bill attended Framlingham College and Birmingham University, both in England, and played on the university rugby team. His education was interrupted by World War II, when Bill served in the British Army from 1941 to 1946, mainly in Africa, and was discharged with the rank of major. Upon graduation from university in 1947 with a degree in petroleum engineering, he began his lifelong career with Mobil Oil.
Bill married Elizabeth Margaret Wadsley on Aug. 14, 1948, in Santa Monica, Calif., after which they moved to Venezuela with Mobil Oil, staying until 1961. Bill started as a junior engineer and left as vice president of exploration and production, Mobil Oil de Venezuela.
From 1961 to 1970, Bill and Madge lived in Westport, Conn. The Wisemans then lived in Libya from 1971 to 1974, where Bill served as president and general manager of Mobil Oil Libya, Ltd. In 1981 Bill retired as general manager of international exploration and production, responsible for all operations outside North America.
After retirement Bill and Madge moved to Arrowsic, Maine, in 1985, spending winters at their second home on Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas.
Bill served the Humane Society of the United States as director from 1973 to 2005, chair from 1988 to 1995, and was recently given the McDermott Pioneer Award. Bill was named as honorable vice president of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, London, England, and was its director from 1987 to 1997; was director of the Chocolate Church Arts Center, Bath, Maine, from 1987 to 1989, and president in 1988. Bill was also a lifelong amateur radio operator, having obtained his first license in England in 1938.
Bill is survived by his wife, Madge; nephews Rick (Sandra) Wadsley of Oregon and George Gunn of England; a niece, Anne Canterbury, of West Virginia; and a cousin, Nick Wiseman, of New Zealand, as well as their dear friends in the Mill Island area, Arrowsic.
Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath, Maine. Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
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