BERKLEY, H. William (Bill)

H. William Berkley (7/01/1922 - 7/03/2010) H. William "Bill" Berkley passed away peacefully at Leisure Living in Tucson on July 3, 2010 at the age of 88. He will be missed. Berkley was born on July 1, 1922, in Elyria, Ohio, to the late Harry E. and Zella Fay Berkley. He graduated from Mansfield (Ohio) High School in 1940 and attended Ohio State University from 1940 to 1942. On October 13, 1942, Berkley enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a Fire Controlman during World War II on the USS Fogg, USS Tucson, and USS Admiral W.S. Sims. He loved his country and flew the flag every day. Following honorable discharge in February 1946, Berkley returned to Ohio State University. While attending Ohio State from 1940 to 1942, and 1946 to 1948, Berkley played first trumpet in the Ohio State Marching Band, otherwise known as the "Best Damn Band in the Land." He was also a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Berkley graduated from Ohio State in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1948, Berkley joined Capital Financial Services Ltd. and served as branch representative, assistant manager, manager, division manager, administrative assistant to the president, and finally vice president and director of supervision. While manager of the Capital Finance office in Massillon, Ohio, Berkley met his future wife, Julia Celeste Plance of Dalton, Ohio, in the process of giving her a car loan. On October 24, 1953, Berkley married Julia. He and Julia had two sons, Blair and Paul; one daughter, Lisa and a blessed family life. Berkley was the quintessential family man and his family was always his top priority and main interest. His favorite pastimes were doing whatever his kids were doing. Berkley also enjoyed taking his family on cross-country road trips for summer vacations. He had a great sense of humor and loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He was an avid newspaper reader and Fox News Network viewer. In 1979, when Beneficial Corporation acquired Capital, Berkley joined Beneficial's Real Estate Department. When he retired from Beneficial in 1982, he commenced a new career as a residential real estate agent with HER Realtors in Columbus, Ohio. In 1985, Berkley moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he resumed his career as a real estate agent at Long Realty. Berkley enjoyed great health and sold real estate until he was 80. In Tucson, Berkley was a member of the Catalina Foothills Presbyterian Church. Berkley is survived by wife, Julia; son, Blair of Rancho Cucamonga, California; son, Paul of Tucson; daughter, Lisa (Jeff) Kasberg of Ostrander, Ohio, and two grandchildren, Douglas and Devon Kasberg. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Catalina Foothills Presbyterian Church in his name and memory. The family would like to express its appreciation to the staff of Leisure Living for love and care provided to Berkley since November 2008. Published in the Tucson Newspapers on July 7, 2010