The Reverend William R.Baran passed away on March 7, 2022 with his loving wife Betty of 68 years of marriage; by his side.  Bill was born in Weehawken New Jersey on August 28 ; 1931.  While in high school, Bill experienced rural life in Vermont and developed a love of dairy farming. After graduating from high school he attended and graduated from the Vermont School of Agriculture and farmed in Connecticut, and Vermont for over 12 years.  During this time, he met his wife, Betty (Chamberlain), in Queechee, Vermont and their family came to include a daughter Susan, and sons Stephen and Thomas.

While in Hartland, Vermont with a young family, Bill became involved in the Congregational Church there as a youth leader, choir member, and trustee and it was during this time that he accepted the "call" into the Christian ministry.  He attended Bangor Theological Seminary obtaining a Master's of Divinity Degree.  At the same time he attended the University of New Hampshire from which he received his Bachelor's degree Cum Laude.  While attending Bangor Theological Seminary he pastored the Norridgewock Federated Church.

For 17 years Pastor Bill was the minister at Second Christian Congregational United Church of Christ In Kittery Maine where he was ordained on June 21, 1970.   During his ministry there he served on the Kittery Town Council for 6 years.  Bill was instrumental in forming the Kittery Eliot Senior Housing (KESH) Corporation, non-profit which built 50 units of senior housing in Kittery known today as Foxwell.  Baran Place in Eliot was named in his honor for his leadership and development of KESH.

In 1984,Pastor Bill was called to the South Congregational Church, UCC in Centerville Massachusetts.

Bill was involved with the United Church of Christ on the national level and served on the Executive Council and chaired the Fiancé and Budget Committee for many years.
Bill retired from full time ministry in 1995 but did fill in as an interim pastor in Hana Hawaii; Buxton and York Beach Maine but quite often was also found in the pulpit of many churches in the seacoast.

Bill and Betty enjoyed many years together traveling the world to include Israel, Cuba, Wales and every US state.

He is survived by his wife Betty (Chamberlain) and two sons, Stephen (wife Denise) of Newburyport Massachusetts, Thomas (wife Linda) of Kittery Maine, son in law Charles Donnell (wife Nadine) of York Maine.  Bill so adored his 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.   Bill is also survived by a brother, Ret. Colonel, Dr. Micheal Baran (USAF) of Madison Alabama. Bill was pre-deceased by a loving daughter, Susan Baran-Donnell who was taken too soon in life and is deeply missed.

The Baran family wants to express its appreciation and support to the members and friends of Second Christian Congregational UCC of Kittery, the doctors and staff at York Hospital and the JS `Pelkey and Son Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Second Christian Congregational Church UCC, 33 Government Street Kittery Maine 03904.