Hoagland, Jr.
Bill Hoagland went to be with Christ on Oct. 7, 2006, from the effects of a series of strokes. He had just celebrated his 82nd birthday.
He is survived by his wife and love, Letha; and his two sons Sidney (Betty) and Peter (Sherri Pocock); as well as three grandchildren he loved very much: Matthew, Sara and Jonathan. Bill is also survived by his brother James (Carol) Hoagland, of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., and two nieces.
A Celebration of Bill's life will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 S.W. Normandy Road, Burien, on Friday, Nov. 10, at 1:30 p.m.
Bill and Letha met when she owned the original Fifth Avenue Record Shop in downtown Seattle, and were married in 1950. They built their dream house in Normandy Park in 1959, and made that home until moving to a retirement home in 2004.
Bill was born in Long Beach, Calif., to Wilbur and Hazel Hoagland. He graduated from Wilson High School in Long Beach, and after attending the University of Arizona for one year, transferred to, and graduated from, Stanford University in 1946 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He joined the family construction business in 1947, and moved to Seattle in 1948 to administer a series of projects in the Northwest, including the Alki Point Sewage Treatment Plant in Seattle. In 1960, he opened his own construction company, specializing in wastewater treatment facilities.
In 1966, he joined Pacific Water Works Supply Co., where he worked in a series of sales, engineering and administrative positions for the next 32 years, retiring in 1998 as Senior Vice President.
Bill was awarded the "Arthur Sidney Bedell Award" in 1992 by the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association for his lifetime contribution to the industry.
Bill loved to sail, and owned a succession of racing sailboats. Over his many years in Seattle, he sailed out of the Corinthian Yacht Club (Seattle), and later moored and participated in races from the Three Tree Point Yacht Club (Des Moines).
Bill loved Beethoven symphonies, Verdi operas, and good single malt whisky. Over the last 25 years of his life, he and Letha toured the world on cruise ships, and he had a special love for Alaska.
He and Letha were founding members of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Normandy Park, and were also involved with Laurelhurst Presbyterian, Bellewood Presbyterian and Seattle's First Presbyterian Church.
The family is forever indebted to the staff of Fleming Home West for their love of, and wonderful care for Bill over the past two years, and their continuing loving care for his wife, Letha. We consider them part of our family.
A private graveside service has been held at Riverton Crest Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts in Bill's memory to: The Harborview Stroke Fund, UW Medicine Development, 1325 Fourth Ave., No. 2000, Seattle, WA 98101; The Seattle Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 21906, Seattle, WA 98111-3906; The Thalia Symphony (see www.ThaliaSymphony.org); or the Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center, 3800 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle, WA 98118.
