ATHENS – William J. Gallant, 74, of Athens passed away Thursday, May 19, 2005, at a Bangor hospital. He was born June 30, 1930, in Pleasant Ridge-Bingham, the son of Clement and Nora (Miller) Gallant. He married the former Lydia Downs on June 11, 1948 in Skowhegan. In the 1940’s and early 50’s Bill and Sonny Martin worked together hauling wood. In 1960 he graduated from the New Brunswick Bible Institute in Victoria, New Brunswick, Canada. In the mid- 60’s he was a charter member of the Church of the Open Bible in Athens. In 1963 he founded the Christ for the Lumber Jacks, Inc. which later became Christ Centered Ministries, Inc. He ministered to the French and English in the lumber camps in Maine from the early 60’s to the late 70’s. From the late 70’s until the present he was a traveling evangelist all over the United States. Bill enjoyed hunting, traveling, doing yard work, flying his J3 Cub, playing his guitar, singing with his wife and family, and sharing the gospel. He is survived by his wife, Lydia of 57 years of Athens; four children, William R. Gallant and wife, Suzette, of Newhall, Calif., Grace Anne Waugh and husband, Gerald, of Skowhegan, Joel Gallant and wife, Lisa, of Evansville, Ind., Meg Grignon and husband, Gerhard, of Athens; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held from 2-3 p.m. Monday, May 23, at the Crossroads Bible Church, 705 White School House Road, Madison, with a funeral service following at 3 p.m. with Pastor Roy Blevins officiating. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Chadbourne Cemetery in Harmony. Donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Church of the Open Bible Building Fund, P.O. Box 88, Athens, ME 04912. Arrangements are under the direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan.
WILLIAM J. GALLANT
