Bill Williams passed away peacefully on June 10, 2025, leaving a legacy of love for his family, friends, and community.

He was born on October 3, 1935, in Eureka, California, to William Williams (originally Hulskath), an immigrant from Switzerland, and Amalia “Mollie” Williams (née Scheisser), also of Swiss ancestry. Bill was raised in a modest house on F Street near Henderson Center. He spent the final year of his life in the same house, living with family members and enjoying daily visits from friends.  

He attended Nazareth Convent School (now St. Bernard’s), Eureka High School, and Humboldt State College, where he played on the collegiate tennis team. Living nearly his entire life in Eureka, he had many lifelong friends, too numerous to name them all, but they start with his childhood friends John Marcuz, Mike Fielding, Jim Callison, and Bill Johnston. These friendships continued through adulthood and included their families. Annual summer trips were taken to Briceland at the Marcuz ranch and houseboating on Trinity Lake. Bill also had special bond with Phil Dwight, who he first met in first grade at the Nazareth Convent School. 

Following college, he served his country in the Army, then returned home to start a career at his family’s business, Ten Window Williams. His father opened the store in 1927 as a journeyman watchmaker and with Bill’s help, they built it into a Humboldt institution until its closing in 2019 after 92 years. Bill learned from his parents to treat employees as family, resulting in many employees working at the jewelry store for more than 30 years.

Bill shared three children — Jennifer, Jeff, and Evan — with his first wife, Nancy Buckley. He was introduced to Nancy by his neighborhood friend, Jere O’Neil, who was Nancy’s cousin. He later married Gale Paradise, staying married for many years followed by a long, loving relationship with Linda Osborne and her two children, Eric and Ali.

Bill witnessed Humboldt County thrive during its peak, when the lumber and fishing industries flourished, the population was growing, and Eureka served as the region’s vibrant center. He enjoyed all aspects of living on the beautiful and rugged North Coast but especially enjoyed duck hunting and fishing for salmon and steelhead. 

He felt privileged to belong to the Centerville Duck Club for many years, and enjoyed annual hunts in Tulelake, Alturas and the Sacramento Valley. Bill told stories of the past where catching 30-pound king salmon right in the bay was common. Hugo Papstein taught Bill to fly fish for steelhead on the Trinity River gorge between Hoopa and Weitchpec. Later, he was introduced to fishing the Klamath River by Larry and Helen Marshall, in particular the Mettah riffle, located just upstream from Pecwan.

Bill would continue to fly fish on Mettah for the next 40-plus years. Whether on the ocean or a river, or smoking a cigar by the fire, Bill enjoyed the company and camaraderie of his closest friends and fishing companions, of which there are many, but most notably Steve Dolfini, Laurie Lazio, Si Wrigley, Glen Wood, Mark Moore, Tony Karlich, Alan Marsh, Lynn Hemas, Davey O’Brien, Rich Ames and Ron Coleman.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt Eva Marte (Hulskath); his uncle Hans Marte; and his first cousin Helen St. Louis. He is survived by his three children: Jennifer Williams, Jeff (Mavis) Williams, and Evan (Holly) Williams, along with seven grandchildren: Yazan, Jordan, Paige, Emma, Cameron, Devon, and Laurel; and last but not least his cousin Judy Powers (St. Louis).

The family would like to extend special thanks to Bill’s daughter, Jennifer, whose daily care enabled a comfortable and joyful final year, and to close family friend Wallie Fitzpatrick for his friendship and never-ending support. 

A celebration of life will be held in Bill’s honor at future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Humboldt in his memory. 

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