WATERVILLE – William A. “Bill” Higgins, 75, of Winslow, passed away March 24, 2005, at Maine General Medical Center in Waterville after a two year battle with cancer. He was born Dec. 24, 1929, in Ellsworth son of Hollis E. and Ruth (Austin) Higgins. Bill attended Ellsworth schools before graduating from Bangor High School in 1947, where he participated in the ROTC program. After high school, Bill served in the U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1952. After graduating from the University of Maine at Orono in 1956, where he was a member of the TKE fraternity, he worked for the Social Security Administration. He served as manager of Waterville Social Security office for 16 years before retiring in 1990. After retirement, Bill worked part time for six years at the Winslow Public Library. He served for many years as the president of the Waterville chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Bill was a history and geography buff, and dedicated basketball fan. Although he enjoyed travel, he was always proud to call Maine his home. Bill was a skilled guitarist. For the past 11 years he was a member of the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society and traveled to Nashville, Tenn. each summer for its yearly convention. It was through this organization that he was thrilled to meet his idol, Chet Atkins, in 1995 He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Linda; son, Brian of Arlington, Va.; brother, Robert and wife, Carol, of Fort Mill, S.C.; cousins, Carroll Austin of Ellsworth, and Evelyn Morris and husband, Harry, of Largo, Fla., and many dearly loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Aileen Jonason. The family wishes to express its deep gratitude for Bill’s care to Four Season Family Practice, to Dr. Hertler and the oncology clinic at Thayer, and in particular to all of the nurses and support staff at 3 North at the Thayer Unit of Maine General in Waterville. Memorial visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday March 30, at Redington Funeral Home, 5 Park St., Waterville. A family memorial service will be held this summer at his beloved camp in Ellsworth. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Oncology Service-Thayer Campus, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903 or to Dana Farber-Jimmy Fund contribution services, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445.
WILLIAM A. ‘BILL’ HIGGINS
