AUGUSTA ? William Chapman Mincher, 81, died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003, at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. He was born in Bangor, April 16, 1921, the son of George and Elisabeth (Chapman) Mincher. He attended schools in Waterville, Brewer and Bangor, graduating from Bangor High School in 1939 as a member of the National Honor Society. He was employed as a meter reader for Bangor Hydroelectric until he enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1942. Following boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., he was assigned to radio-radar school. Upon graduation from the Naval Air Technical Training Center at Corpus Christi, Texas, he was promoted to staff sergeant and applied for Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a second lieutenant April 12, 1944, and was sent through radar school again to learn the latest in the frequent developments in military electronics. Assigned to duty in the South Pacific in 1945, he joined a Marine Corps night-fighter squadron, VMF(N) 534, on Guam, and was its radio-radar officer until the squadron returned to the mainland in December 1945. He was promoted to first lieutenant while with 534 and to captain in 1951 after retiring from active duty in April 1946. Thanks to the GI Bill, Bill attended the University of Maine at Orono and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in English. Part-time work at WLBZ Radio in Bangor during college days led to full-time employment there as an announcer, and in 1950, he became news director. He worked as a stringer (reporter) for United Press International and NBC News and was also a part-time writer/photographer for the Bangor Evening and Sunday Commercial until the newspaper's demise in 1954. He married the former Geraldine Zwicker of Brownville in 1952 and they had one daughter, Jayne, born in 1953. Bill left Bangor in 1958 to become an informational representative in the Information & Education Division, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Game in Augusta. He was promoted to division director in May 1964 and served until his retirement in July 1981. He enjoyed traveling with the wife, daughter, and friends, and continued his hobbies of photography, coins, cross-country skiing, reading, and collecting jazz and swing recordings. He had taken up computer programming in 1976 while working and upon retirement, turned this ability into a freelance, part-time business. A member of the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta since 1989, he served on its advisory committee, was a member of its board of directors from 1991 to 2000, and most recently was its treasurer. He was also a member of the Kennebec Valley Computer Society and served as president in 1989, vice president in 1990, newsletter editor in 1990-91, and worked on several committees. Bill was a patient, gentle, and kind man, whose fine sense of humor and never-ending thirst for knowledge will be greatly missed. He always viewed life as an adventure, even during times of failing health. He and his family would like to acknowledge and thank the caring friends, neighbors, and the various medical staff who assisted in his care over the years, particularly after the death of his wife. We have been truly blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. He was predeceased by his parents; younger brother, John, who died in 1997, and beloved wife, Jerry, who died in July 2000. Survivors include his daughter, Jayne and her husband, Hal, of South China; a sister, Mary Elisabeth Talbot and her husband, James, of Bethlehem, Pa.; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, and a godson. At his request, there will be no visiting hours. A spring memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 18, at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions in his memory to Pine Tree State Arboretum, P.O. Box 344, Augusta 04332, or Kennebec Valley Humane Society, Pet Haven Lane, Augusta 04330.