Willliam "Bill" Harold Bragdon

William (Bill) Harold Bragdon passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.  Bill was surrounded by his loving family as well as close friends.  He was blessed to remain at his favorite place – the home he and his wife, Carol, shared on Sebago Lake.  Bill spent many evenings looking at the sun setting over the lake and he never lost his appreciation for what he felt was the most beautiful spot on Earth.

Bill was born on May 5, 1936 in Portland, Maine to Harold and Victoria (Harvey) Bragdon.  Bill grew up in Westbrook with his parents and five siblings.  He graduated from Westbrook High School in 1955, where he excelled at basketball and baseball.  “It was the opinion of the class of 1955 that Bill was one of the greatest basketball players to hit Western Maine.”  He attended the University of Maine in Orono.

In 1963 he married Carol McDonough at Saint Patrick’s Church in Portland, ME.  They began their life in Portland, but moved shortly thereafter to Falmouth, ME where they raised their two children.  Bill and Carol were happily married for over fifty three years.

Bill spent the majority of his professional career at a Maine based company, The Computer Center/Munis, of Falmouth.  The company was later acquired by Tyler Technologies of Texas.  Bill began work at the Computer Center in 1972.  Bill worked as Vice President of Administration and in 2001, after 29 years of service, he retired.

Bill will be lovingly remembered by his friends and family as one of the kindest people you had the privilege to know.  Every person who knew him has a story (or likely several) of how Bill positively affected their lives.  Whether you knew Bill or not – if you needed something he was right there to help, with a smile.

Bill golfed with the Construction League at the Riverside South course in Portland for 40 years.  Bill was a fan of local hockey and was a season ticket holder to the Maine Mariners and later the Portland Pirates until a couple of years ago.  He and Carol enjoyed trips to Bar Harbor.

What Bill enjoyed most was the camp and later home that he and Carol had built (by his son in law Tim) on Sebago Lake.  He loved to see his grandchildren swimming, family celebrating special events at the lake or family and friends simply sitting back and taking in the view with him.

Bill took time to appreciate the simpler things, to smile and say hello to those he met or just passed by.  Many will remember seeing him walking the mile down to Route 302 and back and waving to everyone on the way.  With Bill’s passing, the world lost a wonderful, genuine, kind-hearted man and heaven gained a true angel.

Bill was pre-deceased by his mother, father and two brothers (George and John).  He is survived by; his wife Carol (McDonough) Bragdon of Standish; his daughter Ann Bragdon, her husband Kurtis Clements, grandchildren Haley, Nate and Grady, all of Casco; his daughter Susan (Bragdon) Smith, her husband Timothy Smith, grandchildren Kellsey and Katelyn, all of North Yarmouth; sister Jane Shaw of Portland; brother Harvey Bragdon of Florida; sister Elaine Robinson of Standish; and sister-in-law Bette Bragdon of Westbrook.

Bill’s family would like to thank all the family members, friends and volunteers who helped make it possible to keep Billy at home during the last stages of his illness.  A special thank you goes to the VNA/Hospice personnel (the angels with invisible wings) who gave Billy such loving care.

Visiting hours will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 31st, at A. T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland, Maine.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 1st at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302) in Windham.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bill's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 383 U. S. Route 1 #2C, Scarborough, Maine 04074.

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