Fred E. Wiley, 93, of Monhegan Island and Brunswick, died peacefully on Jan. 3 at Amenity Manor, Topsham, in the arms of his wife, Faryl.
Born Aug. 20, 1916, son of the late Fred Everett Wiley and the late Selma (Swanson) Wiley of West Hartford, Conn., he was educated at the Noah Webster School, Hartford, Conn., and graduated from Worcester Polytechnical Institute, Worcester, Mass., in 1938.
He spent his entire career as a plastics engineer, both in research and application, and was granted some 40 patents in this field. His work included developing the cooling system for the Manhattan Project, the plastic bottle, light reflective markers and sonar applications.
His lifelong interest in art was nurtured by his grandfather’s art business, Wiley Gallery, Hartford, Conn., and eventually led him to Monhegan Island, where he lived and painted for the last half of his life.
In 1941 he married the late Edith (Usher) Wiley of Hartford, Conn. They had three children, the late Jay Madison Wiley of East Boothbay, and surviving twins Dorothy Louise Wiley of Pullman, Wash., and Marjorie Elizabeth McLellan of Pembroke, Mass.
He survived by his second wife Faryl (Finn) Wiley of Monhegan Island and Brunswick; daughter-in-law, Sydney (Giffin) Wiley of East Boothbay; five grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be conducted on Monhegan Island at a later date.
Donations can be made to the Monhegan Museum, Monhegan, ME, 04852.
Comments can be made at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
Details have been arranged by Brackett Funeral Home, Brunswick.
