FARMINGTON, Maine - William F. Bate, 93, of Farmington, Maine, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at the Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Maine. He was born on July 14, 1923, one of 13 children, a son of John and Mary Agnus (Gordon) Bate; attended Kittery Schools and served his country in the United States Army during World War II. William married the love of his life, Dorothy Goodwin, and they raised their family in Eliot. Earlier in his life, William was in the poultry business for many years. He then entered civil service at Pease Air Force Base as a heavy equipment operator, retiring after 30 years. After retiring, William moved to Farmington Maine where he enjoyed many wonderful years. He was a member of the John F. Hill Grange; he enjoyed being around his family, loved snowmobiling, working in his garden, hunting, fishing, and working with his tractor. Besides his wife, Dorothy, who predeceased him in 2009, he was predeceased by all his siblings. Survivors include his children, Laurence Bate and his wife, Bonnie, Donald Bate, and Marilyn Strauss and her husband, Robert; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. SERVICES: A time of visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., with a funeral service to immediately follow at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the J. S. Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Rd., Kittery, Maine, with the Rev Charles Jepson, officiating. Interment with military honors will be held at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240. Visit: www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book, send a condolence card, or to share a story. Care for the Bate family has been entrusted to the J. S. Pelkey Funeral Home.