William Carl Vanderpool

William C. Vanderpool was born February 15, 1927 in New York City. Bill passed away suddenly on February 19, 2016, just four days after his 89th birthday. Bill was energetic, hard-working and very patriotic.

While still in high school, he held various jobs, including working for a butcher, delivering ice and working in a button factory. He dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Merchant Marine during World War II after hearing President Franklin Roosevelt give a speech on the radio, asking for volunteers. Bill always regretted the fact that most Americans don’t know the important role the Merchant Marine played in World War II, delivering supplies and troops wherever they were needed. They had a very high casualty rate. We could not have won the war without them. President Roosevelt had said the Merchant Marines would receive the same benefits as the other branches of service, but unfortunately he died before the end of the war, and that promise was not kept.

Bill later joined the Army reserve, then transferred to the Air Force Reserve, then to the Navy Reserve, from which he retired with the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1987. Bill retired from the Port Authority of NY and NJ, also in 1987; after working there for 37 years. During his time there, he got his GED and Associate Degree and Masters Plumbers License. He started at the bottom, sweeping floors and rose to become a construction inspector and doing some engineering work; despite the lack of an engineering degree. The last two locations he worked in were The World Trade Center and Newark Airport. After retiring, Bill obtained a Pilot’s License and he loved to fly.

In1996, Bill moved from Toms River NJ, to Tucson. He had hoped to continue flying in Arizona but was unable, due to health issues. Both, before and after the move; he worked as a handyman. He volunteered at Davis Monthan Air Force Base with the 355th Medical Group, for a total of more than 4,000 hours. Bill was a parishioner at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church. HE was a member if the American Legion John P. Burns, Post No. 36 and a member of Jerusalem Daylight Lodge No. 66 Free and Accepted Masons.

Preceded in death by daughter, Carol Ann Ullstrom; brothers Ivan Vanderpool and Donald Hamlin. Survived by daughter Susan Vanderpool, of St. Johnsbury, VT; grandchildren, Lisa French, of Danville, VT; Mindy Stegall, of Fishers, IN; Anders Ullstrom, of Vail, AZ. Seven Great-grandchildren; brothers, George Hamlin, of Alpine, NJ; Ronald Hamlin. Of Moneta, VA; Douglas Hamlin, of Mahwah, NJ; Sister, June Bedel, of Naples, FL; significant other and companion of eleven years, Lois Brooks.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at East Lawn Palms Mortuary.

Arrangements under the direction of East Lawn Palms Mortuary, Tucson, AZ.