FORK, William (Bill)

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, June 13, 2012 William (Bill) Fork of Wickenburg passed away Sunday, May 27. Bill was born Feb. 10, 1927 in Chicago (Flossmoor), Ill., and spent his early years in Flossmoor until high school graduation in April, 1945, when he promptly joined the U.S. Navy. Bill was discharged from the Navy in 1946 and attended Purdue University. By 1949 Bill was attending University of Arizona in Tucson when he met Sue AuBuchon. They were married in Tucson on June 4, 1950 and just happened to spend the first night they were married in Wickenburg. Bill and Sue had their first son Keith in 1951. On July 17, 1951 Bill was returned to active duty in the U.S. Navy where he served on a fast frigate. This ship was a recent World War II Russian lend/lease return vessel and was named the USS Evansville. “It was nothing more than a floating tub when we got it,” as Bill put it. After rebuilding the entire ship, ship and crew set sail for Korea. Bill was awarded the United Nations Medal, Japanese Occupation Medal, and Korean Service Medal for his Navy service. Bill returned home in November 1952 and continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he obtained a J.D. in law in 1955 and an MBA in 1956. In early 1957 Bill was offered a position at Long-Lok Corporation in Los Angeles, Calif. As secretary-treasurer of Long-Lok, Bill wore many hats in such a small company as he was general manger for one of three Long-Lok production facilities and sat on the board of directors as well as his executive duties. Long-Lok was sold in 1967 to the Whittaker Corporation and Bill and Sue moved their now family of eight to an orchard in Zillah, Wash. In 1985, after the kids where grown, Bill and Sue began their migration back to Wickenburg, stopping in Yakima, Wash., and Hemet, Calif., along the way. Bill and Sue loved to play golf anywhere and anytime the weather was good. Bill and Sue were together for more than 61 years. They had six children Keith (Pam), Bill (Frances), Tom, Doug, Kris, Eric (Vicki); grandchildren Ben and Chelsea. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Sue and son Doug, brothers Norman and Donald and sister Miriam. A memorial gathering will be held at David’s Desert Chapel in Wickenburg at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 16.
Posted by Sharla on June 13, 2012

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