William Emmett Mahoney III

William “Bill” E. Mahoney III of Lehigh Acres, FL passed from this earth on Sunday, March 11, 2018 after fighting a valiant battle against Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia, with his loving wife Janice by his side, and just a few days short of his 76th birthday. Bill was the son of the late Michael and Caroline Marrone, born March 16, 1942. He grew up in Ashburnham, Massachusetts and graduated from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA. Ever since he was a young man, Bill wanted to be a pilot. Upon graduating from Cushing in 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he had an honorable career. He trained at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and completed 4 years of service including 13 months at Osan Air Force Base in South Korea. Bill spent many years as a loadmaster in the U.S.A.F. Active Reserve working out of Hanscom Field, in Bedford MA, and later Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA. He retired from the USAF Active Reserve in 1994 with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant with 33 years served and over 10,000 hours of flying time. While he was living and working in Chicopee he met and fell in love with Janice Provost. They were married in 1984, and moved to Lehigh Acres, FL in 1998. Golfing, reading novels and socializing with friends, family and neighbors were favorite pastimes that they shared.

While serving in the Air Force, Bill had 2 tours of duty during wartime. During the Gulf War, for a full year from August 1990 – July 1991 Bill shuttled equipment and troops to and from bases in Germany and Saudi Arabia.

Bill flew equipment in and out of Vietnam from 1969 – 1972. During one operation in February of 1969, while performing their duties his plane and crew were subjected to hostile fire as they flew over a combat area. For this encounter, Bill was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal for service during airlift missions in the Republic of South Vietnam in direct support of the Vietnam military combat operation.

Throughout his adult life, whether it was in the Air Force, or later as a commercial pilot and private pilot, Bill sought opportunities to fly. In one of his more colorful employment periods during the late 70’s and early 1980’s Bill flew for Long View Farm Studios in North Brookfield, MA. Long View was a recording and rehearsal location for many well-known musicians and bands, including the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Carole King. Bill flew these musicians to and from Boston when they visited the studio. Later, Bill piloted for private corporations and American Trans Air (ATA), retiring in 2003.

Bill leaves behind his loving wife of 33 years, Janice (Provost) Mahoney of Lehigh Acres, FL; daughter Mary Beth Litz of Saratoga, NY, and granddaughter Marissa Litz of Saratoga, NY. He is survived by half-sister Babetta (Tom Yoshida) Marrone of Los Alamos, NM; Bettina Marrone of Beaverton, OR and Michael (Lynn LeBlanc Marrone) Marrone of Holden, MA; mother-in-law Julie Provost of Lehigh Acres, FL; nieces Robin Yoshida, Dana (Andrew Stuefen) Marrone, Renee Provost and her mother Dianne Provost and nephew Nathan Marrone.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 5:30 pm at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, FL. Burial will be held at a later date at Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, FL. Info (239) 334-4880