William Merritt Correllus of Oak Bluffs and Little Egg Harbor, N.J., died on Thursday, June 15 at 3:30 p.m. in Manahawkin, N.J. He was 84.

Bill was born at his family’s home in the state forest in Edgartown on April 7, 1933. His father was the state forester for 50 years and Manuel F. Correllus State Forest bears his name. His mother, Hilda Merritt Correllus, was a private duty nurse and homemaker. He attended Edgartown School and upon graduation enlisted in the United States Air Force.

He married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Ann (Veira) Correllus, while he was home on Christmas leave, on Dec. 29, 1951 in the winter church of Our Lady Star of the Sea. Together they raised a family of six, three sons and three daughters.

He received the Meritorious Service Medal as he distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Office of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s representative to the Joint Coordination Center from Feb. 17, 1970 to April 1, 1972. This culminated a distinguished career in the service of his country. Bill and Gerri retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service, a tour to Thailand, and two tours abroad in England and Brussels.

Bill and Gerri worked side by side when they took over the family grocery business, Tony’s Market, in 1972, and turned the mom and pop store into a bustling business. They added beer and wine the following year, along with expanding to add the first lottery location on island. Bill enjoyed seeing his regular customers and welcoming the summer crowds. He learned the game of darts while stationed in Burderop Park, Wiltshire, England, and started the first dart league on-Island at the Portuguese American Club in 1976. In 1992 came a second retirement, when he and Gerri sold Tony’s to Dave and Ellen Richardson.

In retirement he enjoyed woodworking and making furniture for his family. He always had an open door policy at his house, hosting family, friends, and friends of friends on Winthrop avenue in Oak Bluffs.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife Geraldine of 57 years, his son Barry E. Correllus, his brother Richard Correllus, and his sisters Jean A. Ward and Judith M. Strimel.

He survived by his son William A. Correllus and his wife Deborah of Merritt Island, Fla., daughter Patti Leighton and her husband Raymond of Oak Bluffs, son Robert M. Correllus and his wife Lynne of North Attleboro, daughter Barbara Leonard and her husband Brett of Vineyard Haven, daughter Brenda Goodwin and her husband Aaron of Aurora, Mo., and daughter in law Molly Correllus of Zanesville, Ohio, and invited into his family a foreign exchange student from Brazil, Rodolfo (Rudy) Roehrig.

Services will be held on Tuesday, June 27 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea on Massasoit avenue in Oak Bluffs Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, with a reception at the Portuguese American Club. Donations in his name may be made to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Veterans Outreach Program.