William R. Shoalts passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 3, 2013 at the age of 95.

Bill was born in Allenwood, Pa. on Oct. 10, 1917 to Edna (Welsh) Shoalts and William Shoalts. He spent his early years in Allenwood and graduated from Watsontown High School in 1934.

In 1935, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and, as an aviation machinist he served aboard the USS Saratoga and USS Lexington.

In 1943, he was selected for flight school. He earned his gold Naval aviation wings and spent the next 16 years as an enlisted Naval Aviation Pilot (NAP).

During the early 1950s he served in Germany. Bill retired from active duty in 1958 with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. His military awards include: Good Conduct Medal (6 awards), American Defense Service Medal with “Fleet Clasp,” American Theater Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Following military retirement, Bill was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Air Traffic Control Specialist. During this period he had assignments in California, Idaho and Washington. He retired from the FAA in 1973. Bill traveled between homes in Yuma, Ariz. and Washington. He later made Oak Harbor. his permanent residence.

Bill enjoyed hunting fishing and watching football. He was an avid golfer and achieved every golfer’s dream: a hole-in-one. Bill had a keen mind and kept current on politics and world affairs. He never lost his love of flying and aircraft and had subscriptions to Air and Space Magazine until his death.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Robert and Allen, and sister, Marion (Shoalts) Brose. He is survived by his nephews, Ralph Brose of Selinsgrove, Pa., Robert Brose, of Hummel’s Wharf, Pa., and Michael Brose, of Sunbury, Pa.; and nieces Patsy Growth, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Donna Aiello, of Middleburg, Pa.

Services for Bill Shoalts will be held, with full military honors, in Allenwood, Pa. He will be interred in the family plot next to his beloved mother. His caregivers Marcia, Judy, Leanne and Linda want to thank Hospice of the Northwest and Dr. David Lemma for their care and support during Bill’s final days.

Funeral Services were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor, Wash.