Lt. Col. William H. Dunning was born March 16, 1935 in Gorham and died August 3, 2013 in Newcastle.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carol Adams Dunning; daughters, Christina D. Morrill and Sarah D. Buck; sons, William H. Dunning Jr. and Raymond M. Dunning II; grandchildren, Sarah Morrill, Benjamin Dunning, Erin Dunning, Tyler Buck, Emily Buck; and his sisters, Donna Mendoza and Gloria Brown.

Bill attended Lincoln Academy, graduated from Hebron Academy as well as the United States Military Academy. After graduating from West Point, he joined the U.S. Air Force and attended the Office of Special Investigations school and then the Defense Language Institute.

With his language skills, his assignments rotated between Turkey and Washington, D.C. His assignments were interrupted only by a 1970 tour in Vietnam, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star. Ending his 22-year military career in Ankara, Turkey, he then worked in security and labor relations for Boeing Services.

Upon returning to the U.S., he settled in his hometown of Newcastle, where he became active in local politics. He participated in numerous town committees, served as Newcastle's First Selectman from 1985 to 1992, was former Lincoln County Republican Chairman during the late 1990s and was active with the Newcastle Historical Society. He was a member of The Knights of Columbus. Most gratifying to him were his 20-plus years participating in The People to People Thanksgiving Day Baskets.

Bill was an avid "catch and release" fisherman and enjoyed many hours on both Damariscotta Lake and Big Lake. He enjoyed meeting the "Guinness Guys" on Friday afternoons for a healthy dose of humor!

A time of visitation, honoring and celebrating Bill’s life will be held on Thursday evening, August 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Simmons, Harrington & Hall, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay.

A Mass of Celebration will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace, in Boothbay Harbor on Friday, August 9 at noon. A reception will follow. The burial will take place at 3 p.m. at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery, in Newcastle.

In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of William H. Dunning may be made to Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04842.

You are invited to share your condolences, memories and photos with the Dunning family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington and Hall Funeral Home, Boothbay.