William Dorrity

Winterport - William H. “Bill” Dorrity, 98, passed away with his daughter and faithful son-in-law at his side on October 21, 2024. He was born July 2, 1926, in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, the son of William H. and Mary (Rowsell) Dorrity. He moved to Hampden, Maine to attend kindergarten where he met his first wife, Joyce Nickerson, on the very first day of school.
Bill left his junior year of high school at Hampden Academy to serve during WWII in the Army Air Corps, later to become the United States Air Force, at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. He became a proficient pilot and was quickly identified as an excellent and intelligent teacher. At 17 years of age, he became an instructor for seasoned pilots. After the war, he hitchhiked home to Maine and completed his GED and Bachelor of Science degree in two years. When the Korean War started, he reenlisted and was sent back to the same classroom at Keesler Air Force Base, again instructing on all aspects of flying. On October 23, 1949, he married his childhood sweetheart, Joyce. After the war they returned to Maine where he attended the University of Maine, obtaining degrees in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Physics. He stayed on as a professor in the Engineering Department until he joined Vitro Laboratories at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard designing nuclear submarines. Bill was moved to Naval Sea Systems Command in 1972 where he became the Fleet Ballistic Missile Weapons’ System Program Manager under Admiral Nimitz. There he met his wife, Alise.
Bill was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ, most recently in Summerville, South Carolina and Unity, Maine. During retirement he kept busy with mission and work trips advancing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He avidly volunteered with World Bible School, sending the Gospel message around the globe to thousands of people seeking knowledge about Jesus. He was known as the “Cart Man” to many as he made over 5,000 wooden carts for children, focusing on orphans and the needy. In his 70s, he sailed with his cat from Fort Myers, Florida to Surry, Maine, authoring an account of the trip in his book, “Scratch at the Helm”. He was a self-taught harmonica player and loved to entertain friends and family with his music.
Bill was predeceased by his son, William “Bill” Dorrity, III, and grandson, Scott Dorrity. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Dorrity and her husband, Jay Muth; grandchildren Heidi Taylor and her family of Rockland, Tom Dorrity and his family of Hampden, Allyson Dorrity of Hampden, Casey Dorrity and his wife, Abby, of Winterport, and Zach Dorrity and his wife, Rebekah, of Williamstown, KY. In the last years of his life, Bill greatly enjoyed time with his great-grandchildren AnnaJoy, Olivia and Mason Dorrity of Winterport, and Addison Dorrity of Kentucky. His life was blessed by many nieces and nephews, as well as bonus grandchildren, Jason Rainwater of Buffalo, NY, Julianne Rainwater of Athens, GA, and Anna and Clarissa Peyton of Redlands, CA.
Those wishing to honor Bill may donate to Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, c/o Martha Surratt, PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-0338.
A graveside service with military honors will be held 11:00 am, Friday, November 1, 2024, at Locust Grove Cemetery, Main Street South in Hampden with Pastor Dennis Harvey officiating.