Eliot- William L. McKenney, 86, of 49A Riverview Drive, passed away Friday, March 25, at the Maine Veteran's Home of Scarborough.

Mr. McKenney was born on August 20, 1929 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a son of William and Eva (Caret) Mckenney. He attended Portsmouth schools and graduated from Portsmouth High School, class of 1947.

It can be recalled that Bill's Mother died when he was five years old and sometime thereafter he and his brother Clayton were declared wards of the state and were placed in a foster home in Rye, NH. After approximately one year they were moved to another foster home, on a farm, in New Market, NH.

When Clayton turned sixteen the boys moved into their older brother Norman's home, Norman and his wife Dorothy(Dot) provided a beautiful nurturing home for the two brothers until they both graduated from high school and entered into military service. This was an immeasurable kindness from Norman and Dot as they had three children of their own, but somehow they managed and all of their charges turned out quite well.

Immediately following high school Bill enlisted into the United States Navy and served as an Aviation Electronics Technician, and was assigned to several Naval Air Stations and served aboard numerous aircraft carriers as both an electronics technician and also as a naval air crewman, in anti-submarine warfare.

In 1953 he married Serena Clair Whiting. Who died from trauma in November of 1974.

In 1956 Bill was honorably discharged from the US Navy and joined the United States Air Force, and was assigned to Pease Air Force Base. He spent the next ten years assigned to the 100th Bombardment Wing, and was attached to the Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron and the Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL). Upon being reassigned and serving a tour of duty with the United States Security Service, in Turkey, he returned to the continental US and Served as chief of the McGuire Air Force (NJ) base's PMEL. After serving two years at McGuire he retired in 1969, with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant(CMSgt) and returned to civilian life. He was then employed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, as a senior electronics technician(GS-11), in the Metrology Laboratory, retiring in 1992.

Bill was an avid pilot, who held a commercial pilot's license, as well as being a certified flight instructor, both single engine land and instrumental airplanes. He was a person who loved the outdoors and enjoyed flying float (sea) planes into fresh water ponds, to go hunting and camping. He was a member f the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA), the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), as well as the Main Pilot's Association, (MPA). He was a member of the American Legion Post 6, St. Andrews Masonic Lodge 56, Portsmouth, NH, Ancient Scottish Rite Council, and the Bektash Shrine of Concord, NH.

Bill was predeceased by his first wife Serena, and his three older brothers Norman, Donald, and Clayton; as well as his sister Grace.

Bill is survived by his wife and best friend Jan of Eliot, and three sons from his previous marriage, Richard and wife Sharon of Farmington, NH, Donald and wife Sallie of Eliot, ME, and Matthew of Wells, ME; as well as a loving daughter in-law Kathy McKenney.

Services: Per Bill's request there will be no public services. The family will be having a private celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences can be made by visiting www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donation be made to the Maine Veterans Home, 290 US Route I, Scarborough, ME 04074. Care for the McKenney family has been entrusted to the JS Pelkey Funeral Home.