Bill passed away Monday evening June 19, 2017 at the Vibra Hospital in Redding, surrounded by family and friends.

He was born to William and Marianne Pinches on March 12, 1944 in Willits, but they moved to Eureka when he was just an infant. Bill attended Marshall Elementary School and Eureka Junior & Senior High Schools, graduating in 1962. He worked as a tire man for both Firestone Tires and the County of Humboldt then began carving decoys full time in 1972. He also made scull boats for himself and to sell to others

Bill began hunting and fishing with his father at an early age and his love for the outdoors lasted throughout his life. His biggest joy was sculling for ducks and hunting brant on the South Spit of Humboldt Bay. Brant were also his favorite bird to carve and he won first place in that category at the Ward Foundation World Decoy Championships in Ocean City Maryland two years in a row. Over the years he won a myriad of ribbons and awards for his carvings.

In the late ‘70s Bill was instrumental in forming the North Coast Waterfowlers Association, which worked with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife to keep brant hunting open on Humboldt Bay. During that time he also served on the board for California Waterfowl Association. He joined Pacific Flyway Decoy Association in the early ‘70s and took an active part in it ever since, serving on the board for 20 years, acting as judging chairman for many years, and emceeing during competition at the annual Wildfowl Art Classic Show for the past several years.

Earlier in Bill’s career his work was shown in several local galleries. His decoys are highly regarded by many collectors, including members of The Bohemian Club, Hollywood screenwriters and members of Congress. A few years ago his work was featured in the Eureka Clark Museum show on Humboldt Decoy Carvers.

In 2012 Bill was selected to take part in the Chesapeake Challenge, a National Endowment for the Arts program to teach six students how to carve and paint hunting decoys. He was very generous in sharing his knowledge and his shop was always open to anyone who was serious about learning to carve. Bill was much loved for his friendliness, sense of humor and willingness to help others. Vibra Hospital told us they had never had a patient with so many visitors and that he also held the record for people at his bedside vigil.

This February, Bill was inducted into the California Waterfowler’s Hall of Fame also receiving a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for this honor.

Billy always said he was just a duck maker, but he was truly an artist.

Bill was predeceased by his father, William Pinches Sr. He is survived by his mother, Marianne Pinches, his daughter, Kim Pinches and granddaughter Emma Claire, his wife of 28 years, Shirley, her children and grandchildren, Jesse Telnes, Drew Dorris, Brendon Holling, and Millana Chigris

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held Aug. 1st at the Eureka Elk’s Lodge at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association – pacificflyway.org – or a charity of your choice.

### 

The obituary above was submitted by Bill Pinches’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.