William W. Sullivan

Obituary William "Bill" W. Sullivan "Papa" Bill, age 88, died Thursday, January 5, 2006, surrounded by his loving family in Tacoma. He was born February 20, 1917, to Daniel and Mabel Sullivan in Ottumwa, Iowa, moving to Galesburg, Illinois at age 12. Bill grew up during the Great Depression, joining the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 for two years, then working after that until he joined the Army in 1940. He was attached to the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment ("Geronimos"), which was the first combat paratrooper unit of the U.S. Army. Bill served his country in the North African and Italian war theatres, earning a Purple Heart, Silver Star, and a battlefield commission. After the war, Bill relocated to Tacoma, where he met his future wife, Esther Reda. They were married May 28, 1947, at St. Rita's Church. Bill and Esther were married 48 years and raised three daughters. Bill earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Puget Sound. He devoted his working life to teaching, loving the profession and his students, never tiring of encouraging and sharing their learning. He taught for 30 years, most of the that time at Lincoln High School as well as working as adjunct faculty at UPS in Tacoma. His love for reading and knowledge were hallmarks of his life. Bill retired from teaching in 1981, and devoted the remainder of his life to his family and his various hobbies. In 2001 Bill moved to Narrows Glen in Tacoma and lived there until his recent illness and death. Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife Esther in 1995. He is survived by his daughters, Marie Sullivan (Tom Hoidal), Joan Granlund, and Rita Sullivan, his four loving grandchildren, Bill and Jennifer Granlund, Daniel and Kelsey Hoidal, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, January 10, 2006 10:30 am at St. Rita Catholic Church. The Rosary will be recited Monday , January 9, 2006 7:00 pm at the Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel. Entombment Calvary Cloisters. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff and caregivers of the Franciscan Care Center and the Franciscan Hospice House for their constant support and quality care of Bill in the last few months and days of his life. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Washington Talking and Braille Library in Seattle, WA or St. Rita's Parish of Tacoma, WA. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.