PHEONIX - William T. Hunt Jr., 89, passed away peacefully at the Arizona State Veterans Home in Phoenix on Christmas Day 2009.

He was born on Jan. 5, 1920, in Robbinston, Maine, the son of William T. Hunt of Westfield, Mass., and Anna Ayer of St. George, N.B., Canada. He attended school in Robbinston and graduated from Calais Academy in 1938.

He spent 23 years in military service, as a pilot, flight instructor and air traffic controller. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He retired as a major from the Air Force in 1963.

He operated a family dairy farm in Oakland, Maine, until 1967; worked as a farm business technician at UMaine Orono until 1973; and retired as director of financially related services, Farm Credit Service, Auburn, Maine, 1985.

He married Grace Witherell (d. 2002) of Westhampton, Mass., in 1942. They are survived by their nine children, William Hunt III of Lake City, Fla., Robert Hunt of Jefferson, Mass., Cheryl Veilleux of Phoenix, Diane Boulware of Gainesville, Fla., Susan Pelletier of Oakland, Maine, Jane Ayer of Easton, Mass., Marla Duperry of Oakland, Maine, Karen Thomas of Phoenix, and Matthew Hunt of Oakland, Maine; and by 29 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Frank Hosea of Oakland, Maine, and Mark Hosea of Ocala, Fla.; and a sister, Sandra (Hosea) Charity of Ocala, Fla.; and sister-in-law, Harriet Hosea of Oakland, Maine; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He delighted in his relationship with God and his ever-growing family, in music, carpentry, gardening and photography. He was always active in parishes as lector, eucharistic minister, choir director, parish council, and as a catechist, especially in evangelism and RCIA. He was a member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society and Holy Name Society.

Visiting hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 1, at Lawry Bros. Funeral Home, Winslow Chapel, 173 China Road, Winslow, Maine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, at Sacred Heart Church, 70 Pleasant St., Waterville, Maine. Burial will be in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555 (www.all.org).