William Edward Port

Boston - William E. “Bill” Port, 84, of East Wareham, MA, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at the West Roxbury VA Medical Center after a long illness.  He was the loving companion of the late Sandra C. (Dickson) Cheney for 28 years and father figure to her children.

Born in Boston and the son of the late George F. and Marion J. (Stewart) Port, Bill attended Boston Trade High School for Boys and studied carpentry and furniture making.  Bill also served his country proudly in the United States Marine Corps (1959-1963) as an Infantryman with “E” Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines (2/6), 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC. 

From November 29, 1960 to May 15, 1961, Bill participated in OPERATION SOLANT AMITY I aboard the USS Graham County (LST-1176) with 2nd Platoon, "G" Company 2/6, for United Nations Support & Congo Crisis Famine Relief and UN Troops emergency evacuation, President Kennedy's People to People program, and show flag vs Soviets growing expansionist threats and emerging proxies to African Continent. His unit also visited West Coast African Nations, South Africa, Spain, Canary Islands, Brazil, and Trinidad before returning to their home port.

After the military, Bill became a licensed building contractor in Boston for many years, excelling at masonry and carpentry.  For nearly 20 years, he served as Wareham’s last Cobbler located in Wareham Village.  Bill and Sandra also participated in the Massachusetts State Guard Security Forces at Otis Air National Guard Base for several years.

After retiring in 2002, he enjoyed spending time in his workshop making furniture items and gifting them to friends.  He also had a passion for traveling in his RV along the East Coast of the US as well as being an avid chess player. 

He was survived by his children Landon “Scott” Port (wife Melanie), Jeffrey A. Port, and daughter Shari M. Port (husband Jeffrey Vandenbroek.) He was the grandfather of Thomas A. Port, James M. Port (fiancée Samantha Santana), Dimitri S. Rumschlag, Amber M. (Forsythe) Orme.  He was also the great-grandfather of Caleb Saunders, Aiden M. Saunders, Riley H. Saunders, Georgia Vicario and Jack Orme.  He is also survived by his stepchildren Michael Cheney, Robin (Cheney) Edwards, Julie Cheney, Tara (Cheney) Villanueva, and 11 step-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his siblings, the late: Dorothy Greenwood, Agnes L. Filchuk, Peter, Francis (Frank), George Jr., David, Richard W. Port and stepson Thomas Cheney Jr.  He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

 
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday March 1, from 9:30 – 10:30 in the Wareham Village Funeral Home, 5 Center Street.  Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.  The Funeral Service will begin at 10:30 in the funeral home and burial will follow in Agawam Cemetery, RD Stillman Memorial Drive, Wareham. 
To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com

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