William N. Wagley

AUGUSTA -- William N. Wagley, age 88, died on Nov. 1, 2010, at the Maine Veterans' Home in Augusta.

Bill was born on Oct. 19, 1922, in Kansas City, Mo. He grew up in a boarding house operated by his mother to make ends meet after his father left the family. After graduating from high school, he enrolled briefly in the University of Kansas City, leaving to join the Army during World War II. As an enlisted man, he was trained in cryptanalysis. He was then sent to Harvard to train as a Chinese interpreter.

After the war, he moved to New York City, where, with the help of the GI Bill, he attended and graduated from Columbia University. He met his wife, Donna (Malin) Wagley in a Greenwich Village apartment, and they were married two months later. Bill and Donna then enrolled at the University of Iowa, where Bill was a student at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He left to begin a career in the United States Foreign Service, first as a writer of radio plays for Voice of America. Thereafter, he held various positions with the U.S. Department of State for 25 years, living in Washington, D.C., Thailand, Guatemala, Cuba, Japan and Vietnam, and learning several languages. While never a "joiner," he had many deep and enduring friendships from the different phases of his life.

In retirement, he lived in northern California, where he was an avid hiker, tennis player and artist, while continuing to be a regular summer visitor to central and coastal Maine. In 2003, when his health declined, he moved to the Augusta area to be near his family. He had outlived most of his friends, and his dementia took from him his wit and his ability to communicate and be physically active. However, he was fortunate to receive excellent care at the Maine Veterans' Home.

He was predeceased by his brother Charles Wagley; his brother Frank Wagley, who died in infancy; and many good friends.

He is survived by his daughter, Sally Wagley and her husband, Jon Jennings, of Hallowell; two granddaughters, Ruby Jennings of Washington, D.C., and Zoe Jennings, currently of Evanston, Ill.; two stepdaughters, Jana Keith-Jennings of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Brynne Keith-Jennings, of Los Angeles; Bill's former wife, Donna Wagley, of Topsham, with whom he remained friends; and a niece, Betty Kottak, of Seabrook Island, S.C.

His family expresses sincere thanks to Dr. Scott Schiff-Slater, and especially to the dedicated caregivers of E Company at the Maine Veterans' Home, who went way above and beyond the call of duty with their generosity and affection to Bill. It is not possible to praise them enough.

In lieu of flowers, for those who would care to, please make a donation in Bill's memory to the Kennebec Land Trust, 134 Main St., Suite 2B, Winthrop, ME 04364-1442, or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.khrfu neralhomes.com.