NORTH YARMOUTH — William “Bill” Gaddis, 75, of North Yarmouth died as a result of an ultralight aviation accident on June 24.

He was born in Gary, Ind., the son of Catherine (Pester) Gaddis and William E. Gaddis. 

Enlistment in the U.S. Navy brought Gaddis to Brunswick Naval Air Station. Soon after he met Marilyn Grover and they remained married for 49 years.

When his enlistment ended, Gaddis began a civilian career in HVAC working at Maine Medical Center, among other locations. Gaddis was more than handy with tools and, if he couldn’t buy something, he made it himself. He built his first two ultralight planes but was too busy to build the third.

Gaddis loved rural life in North Yarmouth and being outdoors. Besides flying, he enjoyed four wheeling, boating, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, motorcycling, camping, hiking, playing croquet, vegetable gardening, and taking his gun for a walk in the fall. He also perfected the art of napping under a tree.

Gaddis is survived by his wife Marilyn Gaddis; his sons William “Wink” Gaddis and James Gaddis and his partner, Bruce Cramer; his daughters Melissa Napolitano and her husband, Mark and Kathryn Balzer and her husband, Chris; and seven grandchildren Nick and Amanda Stewart, Audrey, Cameron and Rachel Balzer, Hunter Gaddis, and Nadia Napolitano.

Funeral services were private and burial took place in Walnut Hill Cemetery in North Yarmouth.

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William Gaddis

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