William Sanborn

FRYEBURG — William (Bill) Lee Sanborn, 83, of Fryeburg, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, May 14, 2018.

He was born on Jan. 22, 1935 in Bridgton, son of the late Dorothy Merrifield Sanborn and Philip Sanborn.

Bill attended school in Fryeburg and Bridgton, before graduating #1 in his class from Windham Technical School (Willimantic, Conn.). He also received a degree in tool and die making from Pratt and Whitney. Along with his brother, Phil, he opened a successful small business, Sanborn’s Texaco, in Willimantic, Conn., which he ran for 20 years. Before retiring to Fryeburg, he also drove a tractor trailer for many years.

Bill’s passion was the family farm in Fryeburg, along the Saco River, where generations of Sanborns gathered to make memories. He was always proud to say he was a Maine native, born in Bridgton at the “hospital on the hill.” He loved giving rides to his grandchildren on his John Deere tractor. He was a lifetime member of the Benevolent People of Elks (Willimantic Lodge). His grandparents owned The Argue Not Inn in Fryeburg.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Katherine “Nancy” Sanborn; his four sons, Robert of Provincetown, Mass., Stephan of Willimantic, Conn., Richard of Columbia, Conn. and Joseph of Willimantic, Conn.; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Marshall (Phil) of Garner, N.C., Janice of Vassalboro, and Judy of Manchester, Conn.

There will be a service and celebration of life on Saturday, May 19 at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Anne Seaton Church, Fryeburg. A private burial at the Sanborn plot in Sandy Creek, Bridgton will follow.

Bill loved the many family pets, in particular his beloved black Labrador, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Good Samaritan Fund, payable to Lisbon Road Animal Hospital, Lewiston, ME 04240.