Bill grew up mostly as a farm boy in eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon. Bill completed high school in Portland Oregon. He then entered college at the University of Oklahoma, having earned a degree in psychology there.
He started active duty as a junior officer with the United States Navy after college. He served in Vietnam during that conflict and also served aboard the USS Ranger aircraft carrier. In December 1971, Bill was discharged from active Naval service. He was awarded several service medals during his active service.
Bill was active in the San Francisco area with the computer industry and later in Southern California. He was a private pilot and enjoyed building his own plane.
Bill is survived by brothers, Ronald B. Gottschalk and Gary L. Gottschalk along with associated families.
