Wilbur Daniel “Bill” Cheever

FREEPORT – Wilbur Daniel “Bill” Cheever, 87, passed away at Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough on Aug. 8, 2023. He was born on May 12, 1936 in New Bedford, Mass. to the late Wilbur Eldridge Cheever and Edith Mae (Banning) Cheever.

Bill graduated from Lexington, Mass. High School in 1954 then attended Tufts University where he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering and played lacrosse graduating in 1958. His first job was with Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, Pa. before entering the Air Force and being sent to meteorology school in St. Louis where he met his future wife, Kathryn Carrie Deane Million.

He was sent to Madrid, Spain with Kathy following him there to teach children on the Air Force base. They returned to her home in Pocahontas, Ark. where they married on Aug. 26, 1961.

He returned to work in Baltimore at Bethlehem Steel, playing club lacrosse before moving to Hartford, Conn. to work for Stanley Works. His son, Wilbur “Will” Daniel Jr. was born in November 1962 then a daughter, Suzanne “Sue” Million in March of 1964 before they moved to Wetherfield, Conn. where they raised their children. He went to graduate school for Mechanical Engineering at RPI while working for Jacobs Manufacturing where he worked on the team that developed the “Jake Brake”.

He finished his career at International Truck Company in Chicago, Ill. before moving to Freeport to enjoy their retirement. They built a home where he cross-country skied out his back door. He was an avid gardener, lifelong Bruins fan and enjoyed coaching youth hockey and soccer in Connecticut.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Edith and brother, David.

Surviving Bill is his wife of 62 years, Catherine Cheever; son, Will Cheever, daughter, Sue Cheever; grandkids, Manda Hern, John Cheever, Randy Cohen, Rose Cohen, Zoe Cheever, Max Cheever, Aidan Dinzart and Dylan Dinzart; great-grandkids Natalie, Claire, Kristine.

We would like to thank the staff at Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough for providing wonderful care during the final months of his life.

There will be a memorial service 11 a.m. Saturday Oct. 7 at the South Freeport UCC, 98 S. Freeport Rd., Freeport with food and refreshments to follow.

To share memories of Bill or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit http://www.athutchins.com