Capt. 'Bill' Massey: Rehoboth has lost a legend

Capt. William F. “Bill” Massey, 89, passed away in loving hands Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Okeechobee, Fla. He was born Sept. 4, 1925, to the late Francis and Mildred Massey. He was brother to the late Louise Massey Joseph.

Mr. Massey joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1943, and served on the USS Admiral C.F. Hughes, and was also awarded his high school diploma from Rehoboth High School. Bill was very proud to be a veteran of World War II. One of his fondest memories was meeting up with his father, a career Coast Guard officer, in the South Pacific on several occasions. He also ran into his late brother-in-law, William “Bill” Joseph of Rehoboth Beach.

Captain Bill was born and raised in Rehoboth Beach, and was an integral part of the surrounding community. Bill was a Rehoboth Beach lifeguard, Rehoboth and Dewey Beach Lions Clubs member, fireman for the Rehoboth Beach Vol. Fire Co. and Fort Miles, a 32nd Degree Master Mason with the Jefferson Lodge No.15 in Lewes and visitor to Okeechobee Lodge No. 237. He was also a member of the Elks Club in Milford No. 2401, Shriners International, Loyal Order of Moose Milford Lodge 2316, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and proud member of numerous military clubs such as the American Legion Lewes Post 17 and VFW Post 7447.

He was accepted to the Delaware Police Academy. In addition, Bill was a highway superintendent and an operating engineer and assisted in building many roadways in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania as well as the original Indian River Inlet bridge. Mr. Massey was also a master craftsman and was part of the development of Schoolvue in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

In December of 1942, as a Sea Scout, Capt. Bill, along with three of his colleagues, rescued the crew of a navy military plane that crashed into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean just off the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. All members of the plane survived, and the four young men were recognized for their bravery and heroism. They received the Medal for Life Saving from the Boy Scouts of America and also received a Certificate for Heroism signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and others. Bill’s medal and the event caricature published by the Boy’s Life magazine were proudly displayed in the Rehoboth Beach Museum’s exhibit on World War II.

Although Capt. Bill is known for many things, being an avid and expert fisherman is most notable. He spent most of his life as a charter boat captain and owned his own boat, the Aquarius. Bill managed the Southside Indian River Inlet Marina for many years and fished and sailed the East Coast from Ocean City, Md. to Rehoboth Beach and Florida. Capt. Bill was accredited for discovering a popular fishing ground known today as Massey’s Canyon.

Capt. Bill is predeceased by his second wife Jerry Massey and is survived by his wife Myrtle Massey. He is also survived by three daughters, Carol Ann Burn and her husband Thomas, Tairn Ann McCalley and her husband William, and Lisa Weedon and her husband Charles; a son William F. “Bill” Massey Jr.; seven grandchildren: Kristine Dervaes, Thomas Burn III and his wife Alyssa, William Jason Massey, Meghan McCalley, Melissa Massey, Christopher McCalley and Lizabeth Larkin; eight great-grandchildren: Kakalina and Kairos Dervaes, Thomas IV and Mallory Burn, Lily Jo Little, Daisy and Winthrop Curtis, and Jessy Cruz Jr.

Capt. Bill can be described as many things: husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, fisherman, master craftsman, veteran, hero and even a legend, but a true friend is what he is. We know this because of the countless friends he has made along the coast that he loved so much.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m., at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Rehoboth Beach, followed by a reception. Bring your memories of Capt. Bill and help us celebrate his long and adventurous life Sunday, Oct. 18, at Hammerheads Dockside at Indian River Inlet at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mr. Massey’s name to the Ft. Miles Historical Association, the Indian River Lifesaving Station, the Rehoboth Beach Museum, and the Okeechobee Florida Hospice.