Feb. 11, 1935 - Sept. 26, 2008

William Henry Kern, 73, passed away peacefully at his home in Tangent in the quiet hours of the morning on Sept. 26.

Bill was born in Okmulgee, Okla., to Elmer Lawrence and Susie Sunshine Sappington Kern. He started out in the grocery business and throughout his career spent approximately 10 years altogether in grocery. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1968 as an engineer and fireman with a tour of duty served on the U.S.S. Virgo. He did route sales for "Daisy Pies" and "Borden" and also spent about six years serving with the Chico Police Department in California. Bill worked for the Albany Paper Mill for 26 years as a pulp tester; he retired in 1998.

Besides watching his grandsons play sports and being their greatest fan, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, June M. Kern; sons David Kern and Leeland Stoddard, both of Albany, and William H. Kern Jr. of Missouri; daughters Nancy Doss, Pam Murrell and Capresa Guerara, all of Orville, Calif., and Susan Enright of Coos Bay; brothers James Kern of Paradise, Calif., and Kenneth Kern of Durango, Colo.; sister Naomi Ruth Johnson of Gold Beach; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Bill is preceded in death by his father and mother, both of whom entered eternal life in 2001.

A celebration of life for Bill will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Holiday Inn Express, 105 Opal Court N.E., Albany. A private interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.