William Ernest “Bill” Hubert, 72, of Pittston, a wonderful friend, great father, and good husband, passed away Jan. 2 after bringing in some wood and getting ready for supper.
Bill was born in Orange, N.J. on Oct. 14, 1942. He lived in New Jersey until he moved to Pittston in 1973 with his wife, Jane (Harman) Hubert.
As a child, he had told his parents, William J. Hubert and Helen Hubert, that he wanted to live in “the north woods” some day. There, he and his wife raised three children: Sarah, Ben and Mary. His life revolved around his children, his home and community.
With his children he enjoyed hiking the Appalachian Trail with the Gardiner Area HS Outing Club, attending Boy Scout meeting until Ben attained the rank of Eagle Scout, repairing Mary’s vehicles, helping Sarah earn her Maine Guide license, going with the family on Sunday drives to “check out places” he viewed in the Maine Gazeteer, and taking the hunter safety course with all three kids – allowing Ben and Bill to take part in two successful moose hunts. Class field trips, ski trips, Camp Mechuwana outings, football games and dance recitals were just some more of the memories the family has. He was the children’s pre-school daycare provider and never seemed to get upset with them.
His home was his haven. Bill ran a weld shop from the home site and was often found in coveralls over his green Dickies, welding a broken hay rake, extending a body on a pulp truck or fixing a clothesline pole. Although he would fuss a bit about some challenges, he loved welding. He especially got some good “reviews” on his aluminum work. He cared about the work, but more about the people.
Bill grew up on an egg farm and knew that farming was not to be his life, but in later years it was, blueberry farming was his interest. He and Jane were able to purchase 35 acres of blueberries across from their home. There Bill cut brush, patrolled for blueberry eating critters (the 4 and 2-legged kind) and joined in the harvest work. At the age of 70 he was so proud to have finally acquired a John Deere tractor, something he could use in the blueberry field (an excuse?). Bill was a strong, hard working man.
But for all of his strength, he was quite a mild person. He was the most forgiving man we had ever met, a sentimental guy who would shed a tear at a passing parade, a high school graduation, the singing of “How Great Thou Art” (especially the second verse), the loss of an animal friend and the view from a mountain top.
Bill served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Sylvania, being home-ported in Naples, Italy. After leaving the service he backpacked through Europe for one year, then returned to the U.S. where he soon met Jane. They were married Aug. 8, 1970, in Rockaway, N.J.
Being a member of the Pittston community, Bill was a member of the Pittston Fire Department for over 40 years, a member of the East Pittston United Methodist Church and on the Pittston Planning Board and Pittston Budget Committee.
He leaves behind his wife, Jane (Harman) Hubert of Pittston; children, Sarah (Hubert) Ricker of Pittston, Benjamin Hubert and wife Kiley of San Diego, and Mary Hubert and boyfriend Lee Kimball of Saco; grandsons, George and Jacob Ricker of Pittston; brother, Robert Hubert of Blackstone, Va.; sisters, Alice (Hubert) Gregory of Succusunna, N.J., and Marilyn Elliott of Ledgewood, N.J.; six nieces; and one nephew.
Among their many connections to Lincoln County, Bill and his wife Jane have been long time property owners in Whitefield.
Visiting hours were Jan. 6. The funeral will be 3 p.m., Wed., Jan. 7 at the East Pittston United Methodist Church, 1083 E. Pittston Rd., Pittston and burial will be at the Maine Veterans Cemetery (time to be announced), 163 Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Camp Mechuwana, PO Box 277, Winthrop, ME 04364.
Arrangements are being made through Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner.
