PITTSTON – William George Guilmette, 94, of Pittston, died peacefully of natural causes on July 1, 2023, with family members at his bedside. Known to his family and friends as Bill he was born in Skowhegan on Feb. 4, 1929 to parents George Everett Guilmette and Madeline James Guilmette.

He spent his childhood living in Skowhegan, Gardiner and Winslow. At the age of ten he went to live and work on the Webber Farm with Merton Webber for two years. He attended school in Holyoke, Mass. until age 15 when he returned to Maine to live in Gardiner.

During his working career Bill worked at Common Wealth Shoe, Gardiner Shoe, Bates Cotton Mill in Augusta. He started driving trucks for Health-Tex Manufacturing. He continued his employment with Health-Tex as a production manager and then retired from Health-Tex after 29 years. Upon his retirement he opened his own business, Builtright Doorsteps. He did this full-time as a self-taught carpenter. His talents included designing jigs to make custom-made trellises, lawn chairs, picnic tables, doorsteps and many other unique wood products.

Bill loved everything outdoors. His enjoyments came from camping, ATV riding, and boating. He was an avid deer hunter and loved fishing. He made several trips to Newfoundland for moose hunting. In 1973 he took his sons deep sea fishing and reeled in a nine-foot tuna fish that weighed over 800 lbs.

He enjoyed gardening, reading and studying American history, especially World War II. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife Maretta. They made several trips throughout the United States including some winter trips to Florida to see friends and family.

Bill will be sadly missed as a loving husband, wonderful father and stepfather and a great friend. He was predeceased by his brothers Joseph and Richard and his sisters Maxine and Carmen, his first wife of 51 years, Ann McFadden, and her brother Stanley McFadden who was very special to him also passed many years ago. He lost his sons William George Guilmette, George Everett Guilmette and Edward Earl Guilmette. He lost his two very best friends Edward Thibault and Robert Russell many years ago as well.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Maretta Guilmette. Also, by his son David Guilmette and his wife Judy of Richmond, son Stanley Guilmette and his wife Debbie of North Monmouth and William R. Guilmette of Gardiner, daughters Shirley Matson of Chelsea and Ruth Guilmette of Gardiner. He also has three stepchildren, Alan Mason of Tennessee, Mike Mason of Connecticut and Vicki Quesada of Richmond, Maine. He has 13 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

By his request there will be no funeral services. There will be a graveside service at Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner on Saturday, July 15 at 1 p.m.

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.staplesfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers,

donations can be made to: the Kennebec Valley Animal Shelter in Augusta