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Willard Shields "Bill" Price
Bill Price passed away on March 16, 2011, surrounded by his close family, after a brief hospitalization.
Bill was born on May 15, 1937 in Pasadena, California to Willard and Dorothy Price. Bill was the first of their three sons. The family lived in Monrovia, California before moving to a ranch in Yerington, Nevada in 1943. After a few years of ranch life, the family returned to California, enjoying their house on the beach in Oxnard, California during Bill's middle school years. In 1951, the family moved to Claremont, California. Bill attended Claremont High School where he excelled in school and sports. He lettered in football, baseball, and basketball and quarterbacked his team to a league championship in football his senior year. He was later inducted into the school's football hall of fame.
After high school, Bill attended Stanford University. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he graduated from Stanford in 1961 with a degree in economics. He subsequently earned his CPA license and entered public accounting with the major firm of Ernst & Ernst in Los Angeles.
While working in Los Angeles, he met Sharlene Sorensen, who he married in 1965. They moved to Costa Mesa, California to start their family. Their two sons, Terry (1967) and Eric (1968), were born in Newport Beach. Eric tragically passed away in 1981. Bill and Sharlene divorced in 1987.
Bill transitioned from public accounting to corporate finance and accounting positions with national title insurance firms. Following his career opportunities, his family moved to San Diego, California in 1972 and back to Irvine, California in 1978. Bill worked for the national firm First American Financial in Orange County and Portland, Oregon for
twenty years.
After his retirement, Bill returned to Southern California to live near his son's family in San Diego. He was rewarded with his first grandchild, Annie, who was born on his birthday in 1999. Grandpa was Annie's first visitor. His second grandchild was born in 2002, and given the name Will in his honor. San Diego also brought a new love for Bill when he met Loretta "Lorrie" Wilson in 1999. Bill and Lorrie lived happily together in Rancho Bernardo for the rest of his life. These retirement years in San Diego were full of peace and contentment. Bill traveled, played golf, indulged in his lifelong studies of the Civil War and World War II, and enjoyed quality time with the people he loved.
Bill took great pride in his family and his role within it. He was a devoted son to his parents and joyfully worked on their scrapbooks and memoirs to save for future generations. He was an exceptional and loving father and grandfather, with a wonderful combination of wisdom, humor, generosity, and affection. His branch of the family tree was strong because of him, and all will suffer for the loss.
Bill is survived by his brothers Bob and Jack, his son Terry, and his grandchildren Annie and Will. A private family memorial service in Newport Beach is planned.
~Published in the Pomerado News on April 21, 2011
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