William A. 'Bill' Wise, 68

HARRINGTON - William A. "Bill" Wise of Harrington died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 68.

Mr. Wise was born in Gary, Ind., son of the late Byron E. and Helen McKenna Wise.

He attended the University of Delaware.

As a reservist, he achieved the rank of Specialist E-5 in the Delaware National Guard.

Mr. Wise was employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Harrington.

Together with his business partner, he established one of the first surfboard shops on the East Coast in 1962 called The Eastern Surfer in Harrington and Ocean City, Md., and later in Rehoboth Beach.

Mr. Wise and his wife were instrumental in operating Likewise Bikini Shops in Ocean City that fit and manufactured bathing suits of Hawaiian fabrics for customers.

He was a lifelong sportsman. He was a charter member of the Diamond State Skindivers, a spear fishing and archeological dive group. He passionately participated in outdoor activities, especially hunting and fishing. A surfing accident in 1965 severely paralyzed him, leaving him wheelchair bound for the rest of his life.

Mr. Wise was a member of the Delaware Maryland Paralyzed Veterans Association for more than 25 years. From 1979 through 1984 he served as president of the Board of Trustees of the Delaware Trapshooting Hall of Fame, and was a respected sporting firearms historian.

A writer and photographer, his work appeared in international periodicals, books and newspapers. He wrote weekly columns for the Milford Chronicle and The Beachcomber papers in Delaware and Maryland.

In 1996 Mr. Wise was inducted in the East Coast Surfing Legends Hall of Fame for his lifetime contributions to the sport of surfing. He was widely known in international sporting circles.

With a zest for life he traveled widely, flew gliders, swam with dolphins, and observed nature from a unique perspective.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Rosalie T. Wise; children and their spouses, Ben E. and Connie of Chestertown, Md., J. Eric and Linda K. of rural Henderson, Md., and Todd A. and Shelly C. and Christi and Ken Boots, all of Andrewville; sisters, Luanne Wise of Slaughter Beach and Lora McKenna of Philadelphia; nine grandchildren; Parker Wise, Grayson Wise, Erika Wise, Zachary Wise, Jessica Wise, Julia Wise, Harbour Boots, Londin Boots and Kaden Boots.

Funeral services will be noon Tuesday in Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 South DuPont Highway, Harrington, where friends may call two hours earlier.

Burial will be private in Hollywood Cemetery at a later date.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Hunt of a Lifetime, 6297 Buffalo Road, Harborcreek, PA 16421.

Arrangements by Melvin Funeral Home, Harrington.