SACO — William R. Howard Sr., 79, of Saco, died on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, with his loving family by his side.

He was born in Rockland on April 21, 1934, a son of Daniel L. and Lois (Dalzell) Howard.

Later, his family moved to Saco, where he attended local schools and graduated from Thornton Academy, Class of 1952. He later went on to college at the University of Southern Maine and received his master’s degree in teaching.

William served his country in the United States Air Force from 1952-66.

On June 18, 1953, he married his sweetheart, Claire Vir, in Fairfield, Calif.

William taught for many years at Sanford High School, and his next career was in the building trades as a building contractor, retiring in 1996.

He was a member of the Masons, Shriners and Eastern Star.

William is survived by: his wife of 61 years, Claire (Vir) Howard of Saco; two sons, William Howard Jr. and his spouse Nina of Springvale and Stanley Howard of Brownfield; two daughters, Linda Freeman and her spouse David and Sandra Birdsall and spouse Michael, all of Saco; one sister, Ellena Burtt of Saco; three brothers, Daniel Howard and spouse Rita and Clifford Howard, all of Saco, and John Howard and his partner Richard Morin of Las Vegas, Nev.; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

At his request, there will be no services. Those wishing to make donations in his honor may do so to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241. Arrangements are by the Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. To share condolences online, visit www.hopememorial.com.