William Frederick Simon, 81, of Oak Harbor, passed on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, at Fidalgo Care Center in Anacortes, with his loving wife by his side.

Bill was born on Jan. 9, 1936 in St. Louis, Mo., the youngest of four children, to Julius and Stella (Rothaus) Simon. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in biology and a master’s degree in human resources from Pepperdine University.

Bill joined the Navy in 1963 and became an aviator. His favorite aircraft was the P3 Orion. He did several tours in Vietnam and was the instructor pilot while stationed in Florida. In Guam he became a master scuba diver and in Seoul, Korea he was the pilot for the admiral stationed there.

Bill met the love of his life Laurie on a flight to Seoul, where she was his flight attendant. In 1983, Bill retired from the Navy as the LCDR of Operations at NAS North Island. He married Laurie at the Booth residence on Fidalgo Island in August 1984.

They made their home on Whidbey Island, where they lived on a small farm with their horses and cats. Bill leaves behind his beloved wife of 33 years, Laurie Booth, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Donations are suggested in memory of Bill to be made to any of the following: Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation (WAIF); the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel of Anacortes to share a memory of William, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com