William Witcher Wilson

William Witcher Wilson

William Witcher Wilson passed away on August 5, 2016, at the age of 95, wrapped in the love of family and friends. He was born on March 25, 1921, in Des Moines, Iowa, the fourth child of William LeRoy Wilson and Gertrude Brinkerhoff Wilson. His sisters Anna Mary and Janet and his brother LeRoy predeceased him.

Bill attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa from 1941 to 1942. He enlisted in the United States Navy in August 1942. He was commissioned as an officer at the end of his V-12 training and served mostly in the Pacific Theater. When he ended his active duty in the Navy, Bill returned to Iowa and obtained his degree in architectural engineering from Iowa State College in 1949.

After graduating from college, Bill moved Oregon. He worked as a draftsman for Jackson County, then for the California Oregon Power Company (COPCO). When COPCO merged with Pacific Power & Light, Bill was transferred to Portland. He retired from PP&L in 1986.

Bill married Arlene Brood in 1951. They had daughters Rebecca (Garbarino) in 1952 and Janice in 1954. He was a wonderful and loving father with a sense of whimsy and delight. He instilled in his daughters a love of learning and of music.

Bill was always very actively involved in his church, which was the center of his social as well as his spiritual life. He was a charter member of Christ United Methodist Church in Cedar Mill and served as the church organist for decades. When he stepped down from the organist position, he added his lovely baritone voice to the choir.

After his retirement, Bill and Arlene traveled in their RV all around the US, including a trip to Alaska. He loved to garden, both flowers and vegetables. He enjoyed quiet evenings reading poetry and listening to classical music. Usually an introvert, Bill shocked many friends and family members when he began acting with senior theater groups at both the local senior center and downtown Portland. He also drove for Meals on Wheels until he was well into his 80's.

The heart of Bill's life was Arlene, his wife of 58 years. Their devotion to each other was already well-known to family and friends when Arlene had a stroke in 1999 which resulted in her moving into Maryville Nursing Home. No one who knew him was was surprised that Bill went every day, twice a day, to spend time with Arlene, taking her for walks, reading to her, playing games and sharing meals at the nursing home until she passed away in 2009.

Bill is survived by his daughters Rebecca Wilson Garbarino (Joseph) and Janice R. Wilson (Marilyn Curry).

Bill was a kind, warm and gentle man. He touched the hearts of all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 20, at 2:00 pm at Christ United Methodist Church, 12755 NW Dogwood St, Portland, OR 97229. For those interested in a remembrance in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to Christ United Methodist Church or Maryville Nursing Home.