Wilbur Wilson Stirling
August 9, 1934 ~ August 28, 2019 (age 85) 85 Years Old
Tribute
Wilbur Wilson “Handsome Bill” Stirling, 85 of Idaho City, Idaho passed away on August 28, 2019 surrounded by family and dear friends. Bill was born in 1934 in Salt Lake City Utah to Wilbur Wineger Stirling and Agnes Armstrong Wilson Stirling. He was blessed with two wonderful sisters, Wini and Kay who he was always so proud of.
Bill enlisted in the Navy at 17 and served for 3 years and 7 months. He was a machinist and was well respected as a team leader fixing ships during the Korean Conflict. He principally served aboard the USS Bryce Canyon AD-36. Upon his separation from the Navy, the Navy hired him to work at the INL to develop the Nautilus class nuclear submarine. He continued to be a nuclear worker until 1974. A true entrepreneur Bill had several businesses on the side and eventually they became his life’s work. He always liked to have a salvage business as a base to support his many properties and developments. Along the way he became a pilot even running an air service in Astoria, Oregon. Eventually he found his way to Idaho City which was prime for his interests of making the world a better place the “Cowboy Way.” Much of present Idaho City is a better place for having felt Bill’s influence for the last 46 years.
In 1953 he married Glenda “Sherry” Nelson. Bill was the proud father of his four girls and one son. Later in life he married Joan Fleming and cared for her boys as if they were his own. Bill was an honorable man in his own way and though that did not always make it comfortable for his spouse he was a devoted father. He took his responsibilities seriously teaching his children to ride, shoot, work hard and think straight. This included guiding an all-girls Horse 4H Club with activities including competing in rodeos, participation in parades, camping and trail riding. With this kind of upbringing his children have prospered and given Bill many grandchildren all of whom look up to their Papa and his wit and wisdom, including the infamous rope trick.
Bill Stirling is survived by his children; Sherry with Ken Fernandez, Virginia (Gigi) with Brent Davis, Jamie with Roger Metz, Billie-Jo with Keith Hess, Charlie Stirling with Jenn Lemons, 23 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. His sisters; Winifred Voelkers, Kay with Bill Lupton, and their children and grandchildren. Bill also leaves behind friends too numerous to count.
Service will be held at the LDS Park Lane Chapel, 1133 N. Park Ln., Eagle, Idaho, 11:00 AM, Monday, September 23, 2019. The family will receive visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. before the service begins. Following the funeral service, there will be an interment at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at 10100 Horseshoe Bend Road promptly at 1:00 p.m. (adjacent to Dry Creek Cemetery). Family and friends are invited to return to the chapel for a lunch and time to reminisce about Bill’s life.
As Bill was apt to say about his life,
"Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in
broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting....
"Wow! What a ride! Thank You Lord!!!"
Bill enlisted in the Navy at 17 and served for 3 years and 7 months. He was a machinist and was well respected as a team leader fixing ships during the Korean Conflict. He principally served aboard the USS Bryce Canyon AD-36. Upon his separation from the Navy, the Navy hired him to work at the INL to develop the Nautilus class nuclear submarine. He continued to be a nuclear worker until 1974. A true entrepreneur Bill had several businesses on the side and eventually they became his life’s work. He always liked to have a salvage business as a base to support his many properties and developments. Along the way he became a pilot even running an air service in Astoria, Oregon. Eventually he found his way to Idaho City which was prime for his interests of making the world a better place the “Cowboy Way.” Much of present Idaho City is a better place for having felt Bill’s influence for the last 46 years.
In 1953 he married Glenda “Sherry” Nelson. Bill was the proud father of his four girls and one son. Later in life he married Joan Fleming and cared for her boys as if they were his own. Bill was an honorable man in his own way and though that did not always make it comfortable for his spouse he was a devoted father. He took his responsibilities seriously teaching his children to ride, shoot, work hard and think straight. This included guiding an all-girls Horse 4H Club with activities including competing in rodeos, participation in parades, camping and trail riding. With this kind of upbringing his children have prospered and given Bill many grandchildren all of whom look up to their Papa and his wit and wisdom, including the infamous rope trick.
Bill Stirling is survived by his children; Sherry with Ken Fernandez, Virginia (Gigi) with Brent Davis, Jamie with Roger Metz, Billie-Jo with Keith Hess, Charlie Stirling with Jenn Lemons, 23 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. His sisters; Winifred Voelkers, Kay with Bill Lupton, and their children and grandchildren. Bill also leaves behind friends too numerous to count.
Service will be held at the LDS Park Lane Chapel, 1133 N. Park Ln., Eagle, Idaho, 11:00 AM, Monday, September 23, 2019. The family will receive visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. before the service begins. Following the funeral service, there will be an interment at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at 10100 Horseshoe Bend Road promptly at 1:00 p.m. (adjacent to Dry Creek Cemetery). Family and friends are invited to return to the chapel for a lunch and time to reminisce about Bill’s life.
As Bill was apt to say about his life,
"Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in
broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting....
"Wow! What a ride! Thank You Lord!!!"
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