The guy was amazing. You all would be proud to call him your friend. While you always hear good things about someone when they pass with Bill it was all true and sincere.
I went to the viewing yesterday and it was a tear jerker from start to end. The family spoke, his present and past boss spoke, and Banning spoke from MAGNA among others. Some of the stories were amazing. His first boss who knew him since 1982 ish had a hard time speaking. He was falling apart talking about the guy the entire time but pulling him self back together because Bill told him not to come apart at the viewing when he saw him just last week. I didn't realize Bill was so big into his local church. The reverend talked about how Bill was always the first one in the door and the last to leave. Way in the back there was a set of chairs and Bill would be the first one in to sit all the way in the back because he put everyone before himself.
He went on to say how Bill would organize many church events and follow them thru so they ran perfect. Bill always put the bar so high when you gave him something to do or research. All the folks from the church that Bill was involved in their events said they don't know how they will go on without Bill he was that big a part of those groups. We didn't even know it, but Bill wanted to do a car show at the church this year just so the followers could meet his car friends. It seems church, his job, his dog, and turbo Buick's were his life. He was a first class guy and would do anything for anyone.
He worked for an electronics company so he knew it all when it came to electronics. He helped many many Buick brothers fix bugs in their cars with his knowledge of electronics. It's a damn shame when you loose someone so soon in life that is such a good person. I think about the murderers in prisons rotting away till their 80 or older and then Bill has to leave this world at a young 48. It just sucks.
His brother another super nice guy is going to take Bill's hot air Buick. He lives in Binghamton NY and he is a detail oriented guy as well. I spoke with him and told him to come on the forums and just yell for help if he ever needed it. So you hot air guys might have to help him out if you see him around. He said because Bill put his heart and soul into that car he is going to keep it and cherish it. He said he'll keep it clean and take it out to some shows and cruises from time to time. He tossed his daily driver out of the garage just for Bill's car. I was happy to see someone in the family get the car who is going to take good care of it. Bill wanted him to have the car because he knew it would be well taken care of.
It was nice they had Bill's car parked outside on the grass at the viewing yesterday. I parked my 87 right next to it. Really hit home parking next to his car knowing he'll never drive it again. The car looked just the way I saw it at Kirban's open house last month. I sold Bill a spare cam sensor I had laying around and it was still in the trunk. When I visited him in the hospital one time we were chatting about car parts and I told him I was going to sell some spare parts and being positive and thinking forward Bill jumped on a few of them. I know he'll be waiting up there for each and every turbo Buick owner that passes on from this day on. He'll be waiting at the gates in the baddest turbo Buick ever! Waiting for ALL of us with a turbo Buick ride to everlasting life! RIP Bill.... I'll see you on the other side.....