William E. Holly | Obituary

Bill Holly, Age 81, passed away on September 6, 2021 in Tacoma, Washington from complications of Leukemia. He was born in Vancouver, BC Canada on December 18, 1939 to Edward and Marjorie Holly.

Bill graduated from Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington (1958) where among his many activities he served as ASB President. Bill also graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Business Administration and a major in Accounting (1962). He received his Commission as an Officer in the US Navy in 1963 and served during the Vietnam War era. After completing his tour on active- duty, Bill remained in the Naval Reserve ultimately completing twenty years of service to the Country.

Bill’s career in Accounting took him from the Boeing Company to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where he became a lead Internal Auditor responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of numerous Government Projects at the Yard. Bill was awarded a special Certificate in recognition of his Forty Years of service to the Government of the United States of America in January 2007.

Bill’s love for flying planes never was far from his mind. He purchased his first airplane after completing his active duty in the Navy. He attended night classes after work to receive his Airframe Mechanics License and his Power Plant Mechanics License in order to ensure his plane’s continued flying effectiveness.

He also earned his Private Pilot Certificate (with Instrument rating), his Commercial Pilot Certificate and his Flight Instructor Certification. Bill’s flying took him and frequently friends and relatives on trips throughout the Western USA and Canada. He ultimately built a home in Port Orchard, Washington on a private airfield to continue his love of flying.

Bill is survived by his brother, Mark R. Holly (Olympia, Washington), his stepdaughter Catherine Cochran (McCall, Idaho) and his stepson Jeffery Maas (Las Vegas, Nevada).

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