William Barron

William D. Barron, 101 and 1/2, died peacefully at a Bangor hospital on October 26th, 2025, under exceptional care after a brief illness. He was son of Fred and Edna Barron of Pennsville, New Jersey. Bill was truly a member of the Greatest Generation, exemplifying resilience, patriotism, frugality, and commitment to traditional values of loyalty and honor.

Bill graduated from Salem, NJ, High school, class of 1942. As a Depression-Era child, came to Maine briefly in 1943, then served in the Navy, in the Aleutian Islands, through 1945, having been in San Francisco on VJ Day. Following the war, he attended the University of Maine where he met, then married, Pauline C. Clement of Bangor, celebrating 72 years in 2021. The two of them originally traveled to Oregon where Bill obtained a master's degree. He and Polly loved sharing stories of their special time, there together.

Bill was a forester and avid outdoorsman, continuing to enjoy the family camp and woodlot in Dedham as recently as September. He made a career of his love of the woods, working as a forester for Prentiss & Carlisle for Decades.

He was a strong supporter of many organizations over the years, including the Penobscot Country Conservation Association, the Boy Scouts of America, Sigma Nu fraternity, Maine Forest Products Council, Rotary Club, and Society of American Foresters.

He had a keen interest in seeing wildlife flourish, loved the call of the loons and eagles, wild blueberry pie, and simply being in nature at camp watching the hummingbirds circle the flowers. He led the family up Mt. Katahdin in 1964 and instilled a similar passion for the mountain, in them.

Bill and Polly shared a zest for life traveling to far reaching parts of the world, skiing in the eastern and western US plus Europe, sailing in the Caribbean and cruising through the Panama Canal. They will be remembered for many wonderful gatherings around the grand dining room table in their Hampden home.

Bill was predeceased by wife, Polly Barron; daughter, Sharonlee Barron; son, William D. Barron Jr.; sister, Grace; and brother, Jack. He is survived by sons, John Barron of Bangor, and Jeffrey Barron and his wife, Lori, of Falmouth; special friend, Deloris Semmon of Orono, grandchildren, Isaac Barron, Rhianna Bernal, and Cameron Trefry; plus several great and great-great grandchildren.

A limb has fallen from our family tree, that says grieve not for me, but remember the best times, the laughter and the song, and most of all the good life we lived, while I was strong.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 6-8pm on Friday, November 7, 2025 at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden. A funeral service will be held at 1:30pm, Saturday, November 8, 2025 at All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor, with the Rev. Chad L. Poland, pastor and teacher, officiating.

His outdoor heritage made him an inspiration to those who knew him closely and he will be remembered for that. Those who wish to remember Bill in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the All Souls Church, Boy Scouts, Penobscot County Conservation Assoc, and University of Maine school of Forestry.