Charles "Bill" W. Hay

(age 89) A lifelong Spokane resident Bill entered into rest on November 7, 2009. He was born on November 1, 1920 in Spokane to parents Charles and Ethel Hay. Bill graduated from North Central High School in 1939 and entered the US Merchant Marines in 1941. Graduating from the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY in 1942, he went on to serve in the Pacific Theatre during WWII achieving the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and then entered the Naval Reserves until 1965. In 1942, he married his loving wife of 58 years, E. Vivian Peterson and together they raised their family in Spokane. Bill worked for Washington Water Power (Avista) as a journeyman operator –hydroelectric engineer. He retired after many years of service in 1982. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian in 2000. He is survived by his daughters, Carole Hayes of Spokane, Claudia (Leo) Weber of Rapid City, SD, and Becky Hay of Spokane; brother, Robert Hay of Ephrata, WA; nephew, Don (Gloria) Sprague of Butte, MT, five grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. A private burial will take place with a memorial planned for the spring.