WATTS, William Hope

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ >>> Published on Sunday, November 6, 2016 <<< >>> Dec. 2, 1937-Oct. 18, 2016 <<< William Hope Watts, 78, passed away Oct. 18. William was born in San Diego, Calif., to Hope Harmon Watts and Mary Louise Wood. He attended schools in San Diego and graduated from Herbert Hoover High in 1956. After graduation, Bill joined the Marines, serving for nine years. He returned to school at San Diego City College studying management. Bill worked at Pacific Bell as a messenger, where he honed his skills in defensive driving. He dug trenches for pipelines for San Diego Gas and Electric and was able to help friends with this knowledge. He was known for his strong work ethic and going the extra mile. He retired from the County of San Diego where he worked in the Welfare Department and as a clerk for the Sheriff’s Office. Bill was a pioneer of the Havasu Heights community, buying property in the 1960s and planting drought resistant pine trees. He used his engineering and problem solving skills to maintain the trees, which his brother called Havasu National Forest. Most of the trees survive today. He was a volunteer firefighter at Havasu Heights, served on the Water Board and sponsored many major clean-up drives for the community. Bill is preceded in death by his parents and brother Thomas Watts. He is survived by his sister Nancy Peck, sister-in-law Doris Watts, nieces Jill Watts, Rebecca Woo, Julia Horner, Martha Brand, Rose Dyer and Margaret Beasley, nephews Wesley Peck, Douglas Peck and Kevin Peck. Also many great-nieces, nephews, and several great- grand-nieces and nephews. Bill is fondly remembered as the Watts patriarch, who took great interest in his extended family. Donations in Bill’s name may be given to the Lake Havasu City/County Fire Department and American Printing House for the Blind. A memorial celebration is Monday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. in the Havasu Heights community. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the Watts family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.