Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

OWLS HEAD - William R. "Bill" Sprowl, 63, died unexpectedly at his home here, Tuesday, March 2, 2004.
Born in Rockland, October 14, 1940, he was the son of Robert H. and Elizabeth Hammond Sprowl. Educated in local schools, he was a 1958 graduate of Rockland High School. That same year, he entered the United States Marine Corp, serving in this country as well as in Japan. For more than 14 years he served with the U.S. Army Reserves.
Following discharge from the Marine Corp, he resided a few years in California where he attended Fullerton Junior College to study creative writing.
On December 20, 1964, Bill married Geraldine V. Lapham in Garden Grove, California.
In 1967 he returned to mid-coast Maine and worked at Breezy Acres Farm in Warren. He then worked one summer with Marriner's Paving and, after moving to Thomaston in 1968; worked 2 years with Dunn & Elliott Plumbing there. While living in Thomaston, he served as a Boy Scout Troop Leader.
For the next ten years, Bill ran a bread sales and delivery route for Country Kitchen Bakery Products.
During the last twenty years of Bill's working career, he followed one of his life's passions as a fisherman, lobstering out of Owls Head and clamming. He also served several years as caretaker at Camden Public Library.
An avid outdoorsman, Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golfing, and was a member of the Knox County Fish and Game Association.
As a member of the Cushing Militia, during the 1970s he walked every year in the Thomaston 4th of July Parade, dressed in period regalia and firing his black powder rifle.
Bill's family stated that he was one-of-a-kind and always did things his way; a kind and generous man who was sensitive and shy; that he could sometimes be outspoken and controversial but would volunteer to help anyone in need and that he enjoyed writing stories and poetry. Spending summers at Sandy Shores in Warren was one of his favorite pastimes.
He loved doing crossword puzzles, buying scratch-off tickets and coffee.
He was a member and past officer of the Rockland Lodge of Elks, a member of the Marine Corp League and the Owls Head Volunteer Fire Department.
Pre-deceased by one brother George Sprowl in 1995, Bill is survived by his wife of Owls Head; his parents of Rockland; twin daughters, Darla Jean Potter of Eastport, Marla Jean Potter Dodd of Weymouth; two brothers and their wives, David A. and Karen Sprowl of Glen Cove, Dale and Kelly Sprowl of Ellsworth; two sisters and their husbands, Linda and Sheridan Lewis of St. George, Sandra and Denis Wright of Hope; two grandchildren, Kristen Marie Dodd, and Michael Anthony Dodd, as well as many nieces and nephews.
A service in celebration of Bill's life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 8, 2004 at First Baptist Church of St. George at Wileys Corner. The Reverend Walden Chandler will officiate. Spring interment will be in Ocean View Cemetery, South Thomaston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.
Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.
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