Lieut. Col. William E. (Bill) Carroll Jr., of Edgartown died on May 7 at the Henrietta Brewer House. He was 83.

Bill was born on May 18, 1935 in Vineyard Haven, the son of the late William E. Carroll Sr. and Alexandra (McLellan) Carroll. He graduated from the Tisbury High School class of 1953. He was also a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst class of 1957 and obtained his master’s degree from the University of Wyoming.

He was married for 62 years to Leslie (Tarzie) (Look) Carroll. After graduation from university, Bill embarked on a 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force. His career spanned many stops around the country, from Alaska to Florida to California and several points in between. Along the way, he earned his master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wyoming in Laramie and held several different aerospace engineering positions.

He embraced the nomad life that the Air Force provided him, learning to snow ski in Alaska and water ski in Florida, becoming a rodeo fan in Wyoming and a golfer in Ohio. Bill retired from the Air Force holding the rank of Lieut. Colonel in 1984, and went on to a second career at Boeing, working mainly in missile defense until his retirement in 1999. In retirement, he enjoyed spending time sharing his grandchildren’s activities with them, volunteering with the American Legion, improving his golf game, and spending leisurely days on the Island with Tarzie.

Bill was a devout Catholic and active parishioner of St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven.

In addition to his wife, he survived by his children, William E. (Bill) Carroll 3rd of Oak Park, Calif., Patricia (Patsy) Bryant and Susan Puka, both of Dayton, Ohio; a brother Michael Carroll, and sisters Madeleine Carroll and Nancy Carroll, all of Vineyard Haven, and Christine Blanthorn of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Thomas Carroll and Leigh Carroll, and sister Margaret Schultz.

A funeral mass was held on May 14 at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven. Interment was in the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown, with military honors provided by the Veterans of Martha’s Vineyard.

Donations can be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, P.O. Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.