CHELSEA – William J. Rines Sr., 85, of Chelsea, Maine, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, after a brief illness with his children by his side, at the MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. He was born in Gardiner, Maine on Nov. 16, 1936, the son of William and Frances (Brayley) Rines. William attended Gardiner and Hallowell Schools, that was when he met his childhood sweetheart, Jean Poulin, and they married in 1955 and started their family. Their had five children and were married for 64 years, before Jean’s passing. William started out working in a Bean Packing Factory, and later on he worked for Lucas Tree, and also did a lot of construction work, and went on to work for Hallowell Shoe Factory until they closed and then he retired from Carlton Woolen Mill, in Gardiner. He was a Ford man and enjoyed tinkering on old cars and trucks; going to car auction with his son, which he looked forward to every week; going drag races with his nephews Harold and Mark French, and sometimes watching them race; loved watching movies, especially westerns, and enjoyed lots of family gatherings and all the food that went with them, and most of all his family meant the world to him. He was predeceased by his parents; wife Jean; daughter Connie Jean, and sister Fay French.William is survived by his five children, Catherine Folger and husband David, of Pittston, Pamela Brown and Husband James, of Waterville, Victoria Cates and husband Christopher, of China, and a son William J. Rines, Jr. and Arlene Richard, of Pittston; five grandchildren, Howard Smart, Jr., Chelsea and Sacha Rines, Nicholas and Ethan Cates; two great grandchildren, Alyssa and Carter Smart. The Rines family would like to say thank you to the staff at the Alfond Cancer Center and MaineGeneral Medical Center. William’s visiting hours will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 2-4 p.m., and 6-8 p.m., at Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner. A graveside service will be held in the spring or early summer. Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website: http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

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