William Walter Trala Jr.

William Trala Jr passed peacefully

in his bed on Saturday, 17 December 2022, in the presence of his beloved son and daughter-in-law, just two days after his 80th birthday. He was born on 15 December 1942 to William Trala Sr and Rose Trala and grew up in Buffalo, NY alongside his sisters, Rose, Mary Lou, and Joanne as well as his brothers, John and Frank. He married his wife, Earline on August 22, 1964 and shared one son, Gregory.

His was an eclectic and full life. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 7 July 1959 and attended boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, SC. Upon completion of basic training, he was transferred to Marine Barracks, Atsugi Japan, from which he would deploy to the Republic of Vietnam for two tours of duty between from 1965 to 1969. It was during this time that his son, Gregory would be born to his first and only wife, Earline. He would go on to rise through the ranks, achieving the rank of Sergeant Major and serving his country with distinction for 30 years from 1959 to 1989. During his illustrious career, his exploits during the war earned him the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, two Combat Action awards, and the Navy / Marine Corps Commendation Award. He would go on to retire in 1989 and live with his wife in Oceanside, watching his grandchildren grow up and start their lives while working at the nuclear plant in San Onofre. He then got to spend 4 wonderful years watching his great-grandchildren grow.

He is survived by his son, Greg; his daughter-in-law, Allyson; his grandson, Gregory Jr; his granddaughter-in-law, Ashley; his granddaughter, Alisha; his grandson-in-law, Anthony; his foster grandson, Nicholas of the US Navy; his great-grandchildren, Mckena, Madilyn, Macallan, and Ryleigh, his three sisters and two brothers.