NEWPORT and PORT DEPOSIT, Md. – Senior Chief William R. Jarvis, 78, U.S. Navy, retired, died unexpectedly Jan. 4, 2011, at a Maryland hospital. Bill was born June 7, 1932, in Skowhegan, the son of William E. and Maude (Jewell) Jarvis.
He graduated from Newport High School, Class of 1951. He was a star baseball pitcher in high school and later for the Pittsfield A.C. He loved baseball, hunting and fishing. Bill was very proud that he was a member of the U.S. Navy. He served more than 30 years and served two tours in Vietnam as a Seabee. Among his 17 military awards and decorations were the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star. He also received a special Life Saving Medal for saving a little 31/2-year-old girl from drowning in July 1966. While driving home from work he heard her calling for help as she was in a swift current of a river. He stopped his vehicle, dove in and rescued her. He graduated from New Hampshire University in 2008 after many years of taking college courses during his Navy career.
Bill is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Jo (Hendricks) Jarvis of Port Deposit, Md.; his two daughters, Robin J. LeMair and her husband, Martin, of Woolrich and Laurie Hinman and her husband, Rich, of Jacksonville, N.C.; his two sons, Bill Jarvis and his wife, Tina, of Jackman and James Jarvis and his wife, Kari, of Clearfield, Utah; a brother, David Jarvis of Newport; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services with military honors will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Riverside Cemetery, Newport, with Pastor Al Worden officiating. A reception will be afterward at Barrows-Skidgel American Legion Hall, 82 North St., Newport. Local arrangements are entrusted to the care of Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Service Center, Newport. To sign an online guest book and leave written condolences and tributes, please visit
www.PhilipBrownFuneralHome.com.