William Franklin Love unexpectedly and peacefully passed away at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon , WA on August 6, 2016 at the age of 91, with his eldest daughter Mary at his side. He was a recent resident of Anacortes , WA and a prior resident of Antioch , CA .

Bill was born in Hackett , AR and grew up during the depression. He was the eighth child of eleven children born to James and Effie Love. At the age of 17, deeply influenced by the attack at Pearl Harbor , he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Pinkney as a radar operator. He survived a kamikaze attack in Okinawa on April 28, 1945, and he served during the duration of the war.

After the war, looking for work, he eventually found a job at USS Steel in Pittsburgh , CA , where he worked for 39 years. He was a quiet and shy man, so he decided to take ballroom dancing lessons at Ali Baba's Ballroom in Oakland , CA where he met Iris Ann Kimmel. They fell in love and married on September 23, 1961.

They purchased a new home in Antioch , CA , joined the First Baptist Church and had 3 children. They loved to camp and owned a small trailer that they traveled many miles with. They visited family in the Midwest , National Parks, and anywhere else that sounded interesting to them. He was a wonderful father who drove countless car loads of children to camp, Girl Scout outings, Little League games, Rainbow Girl functions, 4-H events, theatre rehearsals and more. He was also very active in his grandkids lives. "Papa Love" always had time to take them on outings to the park, train rides, and ferry rides on the bay. Two of his grandchildren followed in his footsteps and served our country. Jennifer served in the Navy, coincidentally, in the same job description as "Papa." Cameron served in the Army, and was deployed to Afghanistan . Bill's quiet personality, but funny sense of humor was loved by all.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Iris who passed away October 12, 1988. He is survived by his children Mary Stowell (Ray) of Anacortes , WA , Patricia Hart of Antioch , CA , and Kenneth Love of Pacheco , CA . He is also survived by his brother Thomas Love (Phyllis) of Annadale, MN, his grandchildren Jennifer Lloyd (Thom) of Alaska, Stacy Carden of Antioch, CA, Cameron Thompson (Evelyn) of Burbank, CA, and Justin Lloyd of Alaska. Bill also leaves behind his great grandchildren Abel Lloyd and Jackson Lloyd of Alaska . He truly loved all of his many nieces and nephews as well.

At his request, there will be no public service. A private family Honor Guard service will be held at a later date.