December 1927 – June 2015
Bill died peacefully in June of 2015, surrounded by loved ones.
Born in December of 1927 in the small town of Terry, Montana, he was the 3rd of 4 children.
Bill grew up in Butte, Montana during the 1930’s where his father owned a successful package delivery business. After the great depression he and his family headed west, eventually settling in the Seattle area in 1941, where he planted roots and enjoyed the rest of his life.
On August 18th, 1945, Bill joined the Navy, serving in both World War II and the Korean War as Seaman First Class, being honored for his service with the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
An uncompromising and dedicated servant of the people, Bill served as president of the National Association of Letter Carriers for 22 consecutive years, 29 years as a union official, and over 30 years serving as Chairman of the Board for the Seattle Postal Employee’s Credit Union.
He was actively involved in the progression of individual rights and participation in the political process, serving on the Advisory and Policy Committee for the Combined Federal campaign for 6 years and the Washington State Labor Council and Political Action Committee for over 20.
Bill was State Coordinator for Political Action for the NALC for many years, Washington Credit Union League, Governmental Affairs Committee, and numerous fundraiser committees for disaster relief as well as a frequent volunteer for political candidates.
He was highly involved in the community and philanthropic endeavors, serving on the Board of Directors of the Western Washington Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation for 5 years and over 20 years as a volunteer.
Bill was dedicated and continually involved in his family’s lives and the community around him. As a baseball coach, Bill guided the ragtag-appearing South Seattle Babe Ruth team to many years of success during the 1960’s, including a state title. He continued to be a sports enthusiast the entirety of his life, serving as the number one fan and often sideline coach for all of his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.
Bill is survived by a large family and circle of close friends who loved him dearly. These include his wife Brenda, children Natalie, Bill, John, Tom, Robert, Mary, and Jason, 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Patricia Egan.
He lived well, laughed often, and loved much. He gained the respect, admiration and love of all those around him. He had a captivating smile and a perpetual demonstration of enthusiasm, determination and unwavering optimism. He leaves the world better a better place and will always be a source of inspiration.
He will be missed.