July 13, 1945 — February 28, 2025
William Henry “Bill” Dee, lll of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, formerly of Lynnfield, Wakefield, and Reading, Massachusetts passed away on February 28, 2025, after a period of declining health.
Bill was born to Margaret Mary Dunn Dee and William Henry Dee, Jr. on July 13, 1945, in Winchester Hospital, serving Reading, Massachusetts. He was their second child and first son. His siblings were “Vicki” Veronica Ann Dee Davidson, the late “Frank” Francis Joseph Dee, the late “Cathy” Catherine Josephine Dee, and “Eddie” Edward Gregory Dee.
Bill leaves behind his partner/fiancé, Joanne Kennedy Sullivan of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He also leaves two sons with his former wife Grace Beane; William Henry Dee, IV (Meredith Frye) and Christopher Raymond Dee. To his several nieces and nephew, he leaves this message, “I love you all.”
Bill graduated from St. Agnes School in Reading in June 1959, then attended Assumption Preparatory School in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Newman Preparatory School in Boston, and attended St. Robert Bellarmine College in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the summer of 1959, Bill toured the country of Ireland with his namesakes; his father and 80-year old grandfather. In addition to seeing the ancient historic sites and meeting long lost family connections, the trio had two private audiences with the President of Ireland, Eamon De Valera.
Bill was a gifted, natural athlete with speed and agility. He was good at football, baseball, basketball, tennis, track, bowling, golf, and softball – but his specialty was as a long distance runner. That was where his stubborn competitive streak served him well. He went on to share his sports knowledge as the Cross Country and Track coach at Austin Preparatory School for two years, in Reading, Massachusetts.
Following a family tradition, Bill joined the Reading Council of the Knights of Columbus when he turned eighteen years old. He became the advisor to the youngest branch of the Knights of Columbus, the Columbian Squires, and coached their successful basketball team. Bill later served two terms as Grand Knight of the Wakefield Knights of Columbus. For years he supervised one of their biggest fundraisers, the Easter flowers sale. He is a Past District Deputy and Past Faithful Navigator of Pope Pius X Assembly for Fourth Degree Knights.
He worked many different jobs over the years, including starting as a young clerk at his father’s drug store, Dee Pharmacy. He later worked as an assistant manager in retail stores such as W. T. Grants and CVS. He then owned the Dee Card and Gift Shop on Haven St. in Reading, MA for about three years. He spent some time working in the inventory department at MIT’s Lincoln Labs at Hanscom Field in Bedford, Massachusetts. As a music lover, Bill enjoyed his time as a mobile party DJ. He also worked several years as a highly respected barber. His last employment was as a contracted driver for foreign sailors coming into Boston and other New England ports. Cars have been a passion of his forever, so to be driving around New England and getting paid to do so, was as much fun as it was work for him. It was a great joy for Bill, when he was accepted into the Orientals Hot Rod Club, a group of people whom he respected.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Doherty-Barile Funeral Home, and visitation will be at 11 Linden St., Reading, Massachusetts on Friday night, March 7, from 4-7 PM. After a morning gathering at the funeral home, the funeral Mass will take place at St. Agnes Church, Christ the King Parish,186 Woburn St., Reading, Massachusetts on Saturday, March 8, at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at the family plot in Forest Glen Cemetery, Reading, Massachusetts, at the intersection of Forest Glen Rd. and Pearl St.
In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a charitable donation to a cause of their choice.
