WADDOUPS, Clifford W. (Will)

Clifford W. (Will) Waddoups III, born September 17, 1959, in Phoenix, AZ, died January 22, 2004 in Ventura, CA. Will spent his early years growing up in Phoenix and Scottsdale where he attended Kiva grade school. Even in those early formative years, he began to be intrigued with anything that had a motor and was drivable. What began with a GO cart sliding around the corners of a front yard gravel track was to become a life long interest. When he was eight years old, his family moved to the Yolo ranch near Prescott, AZ. There, instead of being interested in the horses and cattle, his leisure always found him on his mini-bike, the tractor, or the ranch jeep. In Prescott he attended Miller Valley grade school and Prescott High School. In his high school years, he raced motorcycle moto-cross competition and also found time to do a frame off restoration of an antique jeep. His last year of high school was at Mingus Union in Cottonwood, AZ where he lived with his family in nearby Cornville. Will attended the University of Arizona majoring in mechanical engineering. While there, he worked part time in the used auto and truck parts business which was to become a major focus of his life for a period of years. He owned and operated a used auto and truck parts business in Cottonwood for several years, however, he never lost his desire to do something he considered more exotic in the automotive field. He later went on to attend the Wyoming Technical Institute, majoring in custom car design and street rod fabrication. During the final years of his life, he worked in California fulfilling his life long passion constructing custom cars and trucks. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his parents, C.W. (Bill) and Helen Waddoups of Cornville, AZ, a sister, Susan Jones (Bruce), of Pagosa Springs, CO, brothers Daniel Waddoups (Shannon) of Russelville, Arkansas, and Matthew Waddoups (Iona) of Sierra Vista, AZ. A private family memorial service was held. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Diabetes Assn., Memorial & Honors Program, P. O. Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio 44720. Published in the Arizona Republic on 1/30/2004.