William T. "Doc" McCance

2/21/1935 - 12/06/2025

Gales Ferry - William T. "Doc" McCance of Gales Ferry, was born in Dade City, Fla. Feb. 21, 1935. He was brought to Kentucky at an early age and grew up in Dayton where he met his wife of 66 years, Anna Louise.

He joined the U.S. Navy Aug. 30, 1954, and retired Oct. 1, 1980, at the rank of master chief hospital corpsman. He qualified to wear the submarine service Silver Dolphins while serving aboard the U.S.S. Thomas A. Edison (SSBN 610 Gold crew and Blue crew). He also served on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln (SSBN 602 Blue crew) and the George C. Marshall (SSBN 654 Blue crew). Doc served as chief of the boat of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln (Blue crew), as command master chief for Submarine Group II, and retired in the position of administrative assistant to the Fleet Surgeon, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Master Chief McCance received three Navy Commendation medals, one Navy Achievement medal, six good conduct medals, two National Defense medals, and a Navy Meritorious Unit Citation while serving on the U.S.S. Thomas A. Edison Blue crew.

He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gales Ferry. He served as a life member of the Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI) and was a member of the USSVI Groton Base. He also served as the USSVI National Historian. He was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member of the Disabled Veterans, and of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 20, Groton. Doc will always be remembered for his athletic ability as a fast pitch softball pitcher including recognition as an All Navy Athlete. He led both Navy and civilian fast pitch softball teams to many championships. In his retirement, he was known as an avid and competitive racquetball player.

He is survived by his two children, Elinore and Willoughby McCance III; his son-in-law, Michael Katz; three grandchildren, Heather, Anna and Joshua; and one great-grandson, Kai. He was a loving and loyal husband, a great father and grandfather, a good friend to his shipmates and friends in the Groton and Ledyard communities, and an inspiration to his family. His was a well-lived life and he will be dearly missed.

His family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, Dec. 10, at the Mystic Funeral Home located on Route 1 in Mystic. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1650 CT-12 in Gales Ferry. Following the Mass, he will be buried at the Gales Ferry Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of Lourdes Church.