June 10, 2017
June 10, 2017
We all miss you Bill. You were a good example of the program in action and continue to be. Really a special person.
Service
Willamette National Cemetery - 10:30am
11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd
Portland, OR 97086
Please arrive by 10:15 and check-in at the main building for site of service.
Service will be from 10:30 -11am including full military honor guard and sharing memories with family and friends.
William “Bill” Palo passed away on February 26th, 2017 as a result of congestive heart failure. Born on June 10, 1944 in Great Falls, Montana, he grew up in cattle country, graduating from Simms High School and enlisting in the Navy in 1962. He served with honor during the Vietnam War through 1966, including tours of duty on the U.S.S. Alamo and the U.S.S. Montrose. When he returned, he worked to tame his demons and create a life of happiness. Along the way, he reached out to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people, helping them get their lives back on track. For years, he worked in jails and rehabilitation centers, offering a hand up to so many who felt they had been abandoned by life.
A man of many passions, Bill was a highly regarded soccer coach and referee during the 1970s. He was actively involved in numerous causes related to the better treatment of war veterans. Perhaps most significantly, he maintained a 48 year association with the many friends of Bill Wilson. In his later years, he discovered the joy of being a Grandfather. It is difficult to imagine a person who ever enjoyed that role more than he did, or a Granddaughter who love her Grandfather more. He blossomed late in life and the warmth of his ready smile and quick joke animated many a family gathering. As one friend wrote, upon hearing of Bill’s death, “Life handed you such a mix/Joy, talents, courage/Also the effects of war, knee deep and clouds of childhood pain/You never stopped your journey to rise above it all/And you did/With the generous spirit that is you.”
Bill is survived by his brother, Terry, sisters, Barbara and Mary Anne, two children, April and Nick, granddaughter Kyra, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their offspring. A service to commemorate his life will be held at Willamette National Cemetery on March 22nd, at 10:30 am. More information will be provided in the coming days.
For those who are interested, a significant number of photos of Bill have been posted on his facebook page, listed under William Palo
Tributes
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May 13, 2017
May 13, 2017
Bill, thank you for being a man who was a good friend as 21 yrs have proven to be. I was honored to be as well the same because of the same value system we as humans who are givers of kindness or genuine people who face the hardest things because of just caring to make life more important more understandable more loving but most importantly loving ourselves even when the world crashes on us who do help and love others and it is us as you have said and lived by that have also as our friendship has been we had to be there for one another even when someone who was the soldier for many was alone as any other as well
Thanks Bill for allowing me to give you my friendship from the beginning and when you had gone and went home to final rest and I was there visiting u and you were all of a sudden resting but not knowing that was the day you finally rested forever and I had to be the one in your place there as a soldier carrying you in not leaving u alone when I found u eyes closed and trying to wake u but you were gone forever I then did what I did as you have done for others as good hearted beyond the call do everyday as a person I never left u alone and did make sure your family and everyone knew that u were not ALONE and you were in good hands when I made the call to get him to the hospital and took all the pain of losing a friend and beyond that loved him as a fellow man to say I will always honor as he said the heart that is good that was bill he was a he was human he was a true and to the point one I shared jokes and I respected him and he appreciated that I was allowing him to at times help me when I got down on my self and was gonna give life up bill talked to me and he encouraged me to know that he knew my heart and to keep going on that meant a lot I was honored to have a friendship that we had and I miss him however as he said in his honor I have to go on and as he did keep on giving and be as I am TRUE GIVING AND LIVING
Thanks Bill for allowing me to give you my friendship from the beginning and when you had gone and went home to final rest and I was there visiting u and you were all of a sudden resting but not knowing that was the day you finally rested forever and I had to be the one in your place there as a soldier carrying you in not leaving u alone when I found u eyes closed and trying to wake u but you were gone forever I then did what I did as you have done for others as good hearted beyond the call do everyday as a person I never left u alone and did make sure your family and everyone knew that u were not ALONE and you were in good hands when I made the call to get him to the hospital and took all the pain of losing a friend and beyond that loved him as a fellow man to say I will always honor as he said the heart that is good that was bill he was a he was human he was a true and to the point one I shared jokes and I respected him and he appreciated that I was allowing him to at times help me when I got down on my self and was gonna give life up bill talked to me and he encouraged me to know that he knew my heart and to keep going on that meant a lot I was honored to have a friendship that we had and I miss him however as he said in his honor I have to go on and as he did keep on giving and be as I am TRUE GIVING AND LIVING
March 18, 2017
March 18, 2017
Bill and Carol took me to my first meeting and I celebrated 45 years in December. Bill gave me his 45 year coin. He led the Wednesday night meeting until his death. Save a seat at the Big Meeting for me Bill.
March 12, 2017
March 12, 2017
My uncle Bill was awesome. I didn't know him long enough. He came into my life when I became more curious about our family. He enlightened me a lot. His heart was huge. I'm glad I had the opportunity to know him and love him at this stage on his life. He had a lot of love to give and showered a lot of it on his grand daughter. He shared so much with all who touched his life. He blessed many peoples lives as well as mine. You will never be forgotten uncle Bill. I love you!
March 9, 2017
March 9, 2017
I remember his face at my wedding just over two years ago, which is where the picture was taken, and how happy he was for me, for everyone. It was wonderful that so many of my friends had the chance to meet him. But for me, my enduring memory of my father involves soccer, a world where he was a top-shelf referee when I was a little kid. He would take me to some of the college games he was refereeing, where I would serve as the ball boy, recovering balls that had landed in the nearby woods. On a few lucky occasions, I got to serve as the emergency back-up linesman, which was a pretty big deal for a young boy not yet a teenager. I can remember bounding out of the foliage with the ball, the warm smile and gentle look of pride on his face as he stood among the players. The memory is vivid, even now, almost forty years later. All children should get to see such a look.
Leave a Tribute
Recent Tributes
June 10, 2017
June 10, 2017
We all miss you Bill. You were a good example of the program in action and continue to be. Really a special person.
May 13, 2017
May 13, 2017
Bill, thank you for being a man who was a good friend as 21 yrs have proven to be. I was honored to be as well the same because of the same value system we as humans who are givers of kindness or genuine people who face the hardest things because of just caring to make life more important more understandable more loving but most importantly loving ourselves even when the world crashes on us who do help and love others and it is us as you have said and lived by that have also as our friendship has been we had to be there for one another even when someone who was the soldier for many was alone as any other as well
Thanks Bill for allowing me to give you my friendship from the beginning and when you had gone and went home to final rest and I was there visiting u and you were all of a sudden resting but not knowing that was the day you finally rested forever and I had to be the one in your place there as a soldier carrying you in not leaving u alone when I found u eyes closed and trying to wake u but you were gone forever I then did what I did as you have done for others as good hearted beyond the call do everyday as a person I never left u alone and did make sure your family and everyone knew that u were not ALONE and you were in good hands when I made the call to get him to the hospital and took all the pain of losing a friend and beyond that loved him as a fellow man to say I will always honor as he said the heart that is good that was bill he was a he was human he was a true and to the point one I shared jokes and I respected him and he appreciated that I was allowing him to at times help me when I got down on my self and was gonna give life up bill talked to me and he encouraged me to know that he knew my heart and to keep going on that meant a lot I was honored to have a friendship that we had and I miss him however as he said in his honor I have to go on and as he did keep on giving and be as I am TRUE GIVING AND LIVING
Thanks Bill for allowing me to give you my friendship from the beginning and when you had gone and went home to final rest and I was there visiting u and you were all of a sudden resting but not knowing that was the day you finally rested forever and I had to be the one in your place there as a soldier carrying you in not leaving u alone when I found u eyes closed and trying to wake u but you were gone forever I then did what I did as you have done for others as good hearted beyond the call do everyday as a person I never left u alone and did make sure your family and everyone knew that u were not ALONE and you were in good hands when I made the call to get him to the hospital and took all the pain of losing a friend and beyond that loved him as a fellow man to say I will always honor as he said the heart that is good that was bill he was a he was human he was a true and to the point one I shared jokes and I respected him and he appreciated that I was allowing him to at times help me when I got down on my self and was gonna give life up bill talked to me and he encouraged me to know that he knew my heart and to keep going on that meant a lot I was honored to have a friendship that we had and I miss him however as he said in his honor I have to go on and as he did keep on giving and be as I am TRUE GIVING AND LIVING
March 18, 2017
March 18, 2017
Bill and Carol took me to my first meeting and I celebrated 45 years in December. Bill gave me his 45 year coin. He led the Wednesday night meeting until his death. Save a seat at the Big Meeting for me Bill.
Gallery
William "Bill" Palo
