Joe was born on October 19, 1938 in Fort Fairfield, ME to Guy J. and Pauline (Deschaines) Williams. His father died in 1940, and his mother moved her seven children to be near family in Waterville ME in 1945. Joe graduated from Waterville High School in 1957. He served in the Army from 1957 to 1961 and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. As part of this assignment he played for the USASA Big Blue Basketball team, travelling around bases in Italy, Germany and France to play in tournaments. He remembered fondly the trip he took with friends to see the Olympics in Rome in 1960. During the off-season, he served as the manager of the USASA Big Blue baseball team. Upon leaving the Army, Joe enrolled at Thomas College in Waterville ME where he met his future wife, Connie (Hallee) while playing ping pong. He graduated with his Associate's degree in business in 1963 and the two were married. After a honeymoon in the mountains of New Hampshire the couple settled in Belfast where Joe took a position teaching business at Crosby High School. In 1967 he started his banking career at Depositor's Trust Company. In 1973, Joe took a position with Skowhegan Savings Bank where he spent the rest of his career, settling permanently in Skowhegan with Connie and their five children. Joe retired from Skowhegan Savings in 2000, having served as Vice President.
Joe was an avid athlete and sports fan. A star basketball player in high school, college and on the "Big Blue" Army basketball team, he continued with the sport as a coach of his four sons' basketball teams when they were young and then as a licensed referee at high school games around Maine for over 20 years. He was also an accomplished golfer, a longtime member of Lakewood Golf Course and frequent competitor in tournaments. He proudly displayed his hole-in-one and tournament trophies at work and at home. After physical disability ended his own golfing activities he continued to help organize tournaments for the Central Maine Seniors Golf Association until 2018.
Joe was also involved in community organizations. He was an active member of the Skowhegan Rotary Club, including being recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. Joe was also a member of the Knights of Columbus (4th degree) at the Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Skowhegan a lifetime member of the Skowhegan State Fair Association. Joe and his wife Connie could be seen enjoying themselves at the local church baked bean dinners, Skowhegan Log Days and Skowhegan State Fair Events every year together until Connie's untimely death from breast cancer in 2004.
Joe is survived by five children and eleven grandchildren: Andrew, wife Lisa, and children Connor, Claire, and Carson of Pittsburgh, PA; Lawrence, wife Jane, and children Haley and Elijah of Windham, ME; Gary and children Harrison and Mako of Riverside, CA; Patrick (Rick), wife Susan, and daughter Lauren of Cumberland, ME; and Anita (Woolley), husband David, and children Brian, Jonah and Henry of Pittsburgh, PA. He is also survived by his siblings Melvin, Richard, Earl, and JoAnn, 50 nieces and nephews, his close friend Jaqueline Chadbourne, and his dog, Sam. He is preceded in death by his wife, Constance Hallee in 2004, and his brothers Paul and Reginald.
The family would like to thank MaineGeneral Medical Center Clinical Staff from the Emergency Department and the Rehabilitation Unit and the 2 West Team for the incredible and compassionate care provided to our father in his final days. The family also wishes to thank the staff at Glenridge Long Term Care for caring for Joe and facilitating regular communication with him while navigating the difficulties of the COVID pandemic. In addition, the family thanks Dr Ball and the VA Healthcare staff for providing the services that enabled Joe to remain in his home for as long as he possibly could.
Services will be held in late June in Skowhegan, Maine, with specific date and location to be determined.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. Anyone who wishes to leave the family messages of condolence may do so on our website https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/skowhegan-me/guy-williams-10152142
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Joe and Connie Williams Memorial College Scholarship Fund at https://gofund.me/b361703e.
