William 'Bill' F. Carlson

Bill passed away on Saturday, April 24 at the age of 80. He was born to Paul and Dorothy Carlson on November 24, 1929, in Bristol, CT. Bill married Judy Straw on May 28, 1960, in Santa Fe, NM. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Bill lived a life of learning and adventure, starting at an early age. As a senior in high school, he took a test given by the Navy for candidates for a new program called the Naval Aviation College Program. He was chosen as one of only two people from the state of Connecticut to participate. The program provided him with four years of college funding, and obligated him to four years of Navy duty. Bill's Navy experience started after two years of college at Northeastern University in Boston. He attended preflight training in Pensacola Florida, and then started flying instruction, which culminated with qualifying by taking off and landing six times from the aircraft carrier Cabot out in the Guilf of Mexico. He received advanced flight training in PBM seaplanes in Corpus Cristi, TX. Bill received his wings in October of 1950, and reported for duty at his first squadron, VP-45, in Norfolk, Virginia. His squadron was moved to the Panama Canal Zone in 1951, and two years later Bill was promoted to Patrol Plane Commander. He was, at that time, the youngest plane commander in the Navy.

In 1954, Bill left Panama and returned to college at the University of Missouri, to complete his degree. After graduating, Bill went to work for the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, in Los Alamos, NM. While working in Los Alamos, Bill completed his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of New Mexico. He worked for a variety of companies in many locations, including General Dynamics in San Diego, CA; Los Alamos Scientific Lab at the Nevada Test Site in Las Vegas, NV; Westinghouse in Richland, WA; Exxon Nuclear Co, in Malta, NY and Torrance, CA.

Throughout his life, Bill loved music and singing. He was a 38-year member of the choir at Kennewick First Presbyterian church, and participated in many community singing groups, including the Columbia Chorale. He enjoyed golf, reading, and working crossword puzzles.

Bill was a devoted Christian, and lived his faith rather than talking about it. He was a church elder, and enjoyed a variety of church tasks including counting the weekly offering.

Bill is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Judy; sons Craig and David; daughter Karen Waalkes Adam; grandchildren Judy Marie and Brian Carlson; and Eli and Nicholas Waalkes. He was preceded in death by his parents and his only sister, Barbara Carlson, Forestville, CT.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made in his name to the Kennewick First Presbyterian Church.

All are welcome to join in a celebration of Bill's life on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m., at the Kennewick First Presbyterian Church, 2001 West Kennewick Avenue, Kennewick, WA.

A private graveside service was held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Richland, WA.