William (Bill) Witham

| July 13, 2010 1:00 PM

William (Bill) Witham, 77, of Ephrata, Wa., passed away on Monday, June 21, 2010.

He was born on Sept. 2, 1932 in Lake Mils, Iowa to Howard and Vivian Witham.

He graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1950, and joined the military.

Bill met his wife, Pat, on a blind date while he was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wa., and they were married on Feb. 8, 1958 in Davenport, Wa.

Bill retired from the U.S. Air Force after 22 years of service. During the last 11 years of his military career, he served as a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He received extensive schooling throughout his military career.

Following his retirement, Bill went to work for United Air Lines, based out of San Francisco, Calif., until 1988.

Bill and Pat traveled to several foreign countries and throughout the United States; most recently vacationing on a cruise through the Panama Canal.

As an Air Force family, they lived in many places, including Clark Air Force Base in the Republic of the Philippines.

After his retirement from United Airlines, they moved to Ephrata where Bill was an active member of the Art Semro Post No. 29 American Legion,

Grant County Historical Society, Association of Former OSI USAF Special Agents, and the Eagles Lodge.

Bill is survived by his wife. Pat, of Ephrata; three children, son Jim and wife Sandy Witham of Yreka, Calif., daughter Garyanne Witham of Vallejo, Calif., daughter Deanna and husband Terry Niemeyer of Newberry Springs, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, his mother, Vivian Witham of Austin, Minn,; a brother, Stanley and wife Shirely Witham of O’Sage, Iowa; sisters Norma Berg of Houston, Texas, and Audry and husband Jack Hastings of Austin, Minn.; brother-in-law Floyd and wife Leora Hansen of Ephrata; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Witham; and a daughter, Audrey Witham, in 1997.

A celebration of life will be held at the Art Semro Post No. 28 American Legion Hall in Ephrata Saturday, July 25 at 2 p.m.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Art Semro Post No. 28 American Legion Color Guard, or the Grant County Historical Museum.

Nicoles Funeral Home of Ephrata is in charge of arrangements.