William L. "Bill" Loofbourrow, 76, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2017 at home in Healdsburg. Bill was born September 19, 1941 in Pomona, California and attended Cal Poly Pomona. He was proud of his 40-year engineering career that specialized in hybrid microelectronics research and manufacturing. Bill worked for Aerojet, General Dynamics, Hewlett Packard and Agilent. After retiring in 2003, he devoted his brilliant imagination and engineering skills to creating a grand playground for his grandchildren and many others to enjoy; it featured a fishing and swimming pond, zip-lines, treehouse, campground, horseback riding, spud gun, and the cultivation of giant pumpkins. He was a master woodworker, photographer, storyteller, and above all, fisherman. As a lifelong Christian, Bill had a deep love of the Bible, and joyfully taught the Word throughout his adult life. He fought the good fight in life and through his battle with leukemia, but ultimately placed his hope and trust in the God of eternal life; we are confident his new life has just begun. He will be greatly missed by so many.

Bill is the beloved husband of Suzanne Loofbourrow for 51 years, proud father of Ryan Loofbourrow and Leanne ‏(Bruce)‏ Wydick, adored "Papa" to grandchildren Quinn, Tessa Loofbourrow, Allie, Kayla Wydick. Bill is also survived by his brother Daryl Loofbourrow and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lula, and brothers James and Dennis Loofbourrow. His family meant the world to him.

Bill's family are truly grateful for the amazing medical teams at UCSF and Sutter hospitals as well as the love and support of the family of God.

Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Bill's life is on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Healdsburg Community Church, 1100 University Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

«b»A Tribute to Her Uncle Bill on the 1-year Anniversary of His Passing
By: Karly Loofbourrow, 3 Dec 2018«/b» ‏(Used by permission.)‏

"Today I'm remembering my dear Uncle Bill, who passed into the arms of Jesus a year ago. I wasn't able to speak at his memorial, but I still want to share what he meant to me. My uncle was such a blessing to me throughout my life. When my dad ‏(his younger brother)‏ passed away I was 18 years old and totally naïve about money and life, and he helped me to manage financial decisions and navigate the stock market for investments. He and my Aunt Suzanne both stepped up to mentor and assist us in all ways. Included us in all the holiday gatherings and kept in touch with us, helping and spending time with us to heal the pain of loss we all felt.

Uncle Bill was always full of creative and ideas and building new inventions to share with us all. He loved to keep himself busy, even lifting hand weights to stay strong while we watched movies together as we convalesced after we'd each had surgeries. I called him Superman. And he was strong - could crack your back giving you one of his bear hugs. I loved that he winked when he laughed, and always had an affection for jokes that he would share with his brothers and the rest of us at family gatherings. Every Saturday morning we'd go out to Warm Springs Dam for a picnic brunch, and he was always the Egg Hider, and Egg Hunt Director so we could find what he'd hidden. Every Thanksgiving, he would carve the turkey at our family gatherings. Every Christmas morning he and Aunt Suzanne would come for a special breakfast at my house, and I'd keep Cinnamon Stick tea set aside just for him. I'd laugh at his extreme dislike for bell peppers and hide them in the homemade Lasagna he enjoyed so much, and he'd laugh at my terror of all bees when we'd eat outside at their house. I loved driving up the long driveway to their house and finding him busy in his big garage workshop that smelled of wood shavings and motor oil and innovation, and he'd always have something to show me when I got there. He would walk every inch of his property, changing, cleaning and clearing, building and fixing things everywhere - always improving and caring for his home and land. I see him in every inch of that property.

He and I found a shared love of photography and would go out on day trips together just looking at the beauty God had created, grabbing lunch together at new places and talking and laughing and finding the adventure in exploring. He'd tell me stories about my dad and uncles growing up together and the mischief they got into, as we walked all around. I treasure each memory and will never forget those times Â… especially the time we spontaneously decided to drive out to the coast for photos and encountered a billion cyclists on a race day all the way out to Bodega! He always had a special place in his heart for cyclists, but I kept the window lock on and guarded the car horn so there were no fun incidents that day. He was always willing to share what he knew, teaching and pointing out the details and steps. We shared an interest in the technical side of things - computers, gadgets, building things, and the 'how' things worked and went together like puzzles. He called me 'Little Sis'. It was so special to me that he understood my desire to know 'why' and the details, and that he took time to fill me in and walk me through how he'd done something. I so appreciated his faith in me to be able to do something when others might see only a girl, and think I could not or should not bother. I miss him so much.

But I am glad he is free of pain, no more suffering for him, and he is in good company with my father and uncle Jim, and my beloved grandparents - all together in the glory of God. I bet he has so much to tell me and show me when I get there too. More than anything I just want to tell him Thank You, for taking the time, for making the effort, for being who he was and how God used it in my life and the lives of so many others. I'm forever changed because of it, and so grateful for him."