PORTLAND — Frank W. “Billy” Kilbreth, 91, a resident of Turner, passed away Thursday evening, Sept. 20, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Sept. 11, 1927, in Turner, the son of Harold and Mabel (Matthew) Kilbreth Sr. He graduated from Leavitt Institute in 1945.
Billy proudly served in the United States Marine Corps until 1948. On Sept. 23, 1950, in Poland, he married Prudence Benson of Mechanic Falls. They enjoyed 31 years together before her passing on June 5, 1982. He later married Janis “Toddy” (Green) Whitcomb of Turner on Aug. 6, 1983. He started as a sawyer in his father’s sawmill at the age of 16 and was very well known throughout the sawmill industry. That was followed by a career as a long-haul truck driver. He was a member of the Nezinscot Masonic Lodge No. 0101 in Turner.
Billy and Toddy loved traveling and enjoyed 20 winters in Dade City, Florida. He enjoyed water skiing, sky diving and dancing with his wife. He also loved maintaining their immaculate yard and par-3, 9-hole golf course he created in their backyard, which was featured in the May 2005 edition of Downeast Magazine. Above all else, Billy especially loved time spent with his wife and family.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Janis Whitcomb-Kilbreth of Turner; his son, Stephen Kilbreth and wife, Thelma, of Mechanic Falls; four daughters, Cheryl Vogelsong and husband, Tom, of Brooksville, Fla., Robin Wiggin and husband, Jim, of Benton, Kelly Smith and husband, Richard, of Altamonte Springs, Fla., and Candace Benoit and husband, Dave, of Austin, TX; stepdaughters, Lisa Freda of Bethel and Beth St. Pierre and husband, Marc, of Turner; and stepson, Brent Whitcomb and wife, Elaine, of Keysville, N.Y.; 16 grandchildren, Tacey Bartlett and husband, Mike, Rhonda Wozny and husband, Tim, Sonya Bowling and husband, Eric, Andrew Wiggin and wife, Kelly, Lane Wiggin and wife, Jessica, Carly Wiggin, Kyle Smith and wife, Cristina, Mary-Abbie Nicholson and husband, Matt, JoEllen Goldsberry and husband, Joe Don, Glen Kilbreth and wife, Naomi, Heath Kilbreth and wife, Vanessa, Thomas Whitcomb and wife, Elizabeth, Hannah Richards and husband, Adam, Matthew Whitcomb, Spencer St. Pierre and wife, Tia, and Shelby St. Pierre and partner, Erik; 23 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Blanche Hill of Lewiston.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Prudence; his brother, Harold Kilbreth Jr.; and his great-granddaughter, Anna Wiggin.
Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.
Funeral services will be held with full military honors at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Advent Christian Church, 7 Lewiston St., Mechanic Falls. Visitation will be held at the church from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the funeral service. Interment at Maple Grove Cemetery, Marshall Street, Mechanic Falls. If desired, contributions may be made to Honor Flight Maine, P.O. Box 1770, Portland, ME 04101-1770.
Frank W. “Billy” Kilbreth
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