William R. Virchow, 81, Was Veteran, School Teacher

William (Bill) Richard Virchow, 81, husband of the late Roberta Lees Virchow of Thompson Hill Road in Portland, Conn., died on Sunday, Dec. 15, at home.

Born in Norwood on August 19, 1921, he attended Mechanic Arts High School in Boston, received his bachelor of arts degree from Northeastern University in Boston and went on to receive his master of arts degree in education from Clark University in Worcester. Mr. Virchow taught in several schools in Massachusetts, including the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, from the 1950s to the early 1960s, before moving to Portland to teach there. While teaching, he spent summers on the Vineyard, working for the Steamship Authority.

Mr. Virchow retired from Pratt & Whitney in 1987, where he taught in the supervisor training program. He was an army veteran of World War II, honorably discharged as a sergeant first class. He was a member of the Portland Environmental Watch and the Greater Middletown Stroke Club.

He is survived by two sons, Kenneth and his wife, Judy Virchow of Bolton and Richard Virchow of East Hartford; a daughter, Marilyn Messenger, and her longtime companion, Edward Scanlon of Glastonbury, and four grandchildren, Janice and Eric Messenger, Jeffrey Virchow and Jaime Soter.

Services were held Dec. 18 at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be made to the Greater Middletown Stroke Club, 28 Way Road, Middlefield, CT 06455.