The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

William “Bill” Ower of Cathlamet died June 24, 2016, the day before his 73rd birthday.

Bill was born and raised in California and after several years of college, joined the Air Force. He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska where he married and had two sons. He joined the Fairbanks fire department and spend the next 27 years as a procurement manager for the state in Juneau and Anchorage.

It was in Anchorage that he met is wife Joyce after a divorce from his first wife many years earlier. They married in 1983, bought a small Cessna and spent weekends exploring. Tiring of Alaska winters, Bill convinced Joyce to move “outside” and they retired to Cathlamet 22 years ago.

Bill loved this wonderful community and became active in the volunteer fire department, chaired the weed board and became a quasi-farmer, growing hay for their expanding horse herd. Bill had a passion for the fire department, belonging to three districts at one time. He loved the rural lifestyle and how friendly and caring the community is.

He is survived by his wife Joyce, stepson Geoffrey and two grandchildren of Santa Barbara, Calif., and a sister Barbara of Centralia.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Cathlamet Fire Hall at 2 p.m., Friday, July 15. Donations may be made to Cathlamet Fire District. Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.