William Hungerford Barbour Jr.

William (Bill) Hungerford Barbour, Junior was born on October 11, 1920 in Hermosa Beach California. One of his early memories includes taking his little red wagon down to the beach to fill it with rocks. He had one younger sister, Marilyn.

When Bill was still in grade school, his mother developed Tuberculosis, and the family moved to the Tujunga area for the “good air” there. They hoped this new area would help her health, but unfortunately she passed away when Bill and his little sister were still pre-teens. This was very difficult for Bill, as he truly cherished his mother.

At that time, Bill’s father sent him and Marilyn to live with an aunt and uncle, which was a rather neglectful situation for the children. Thankfully, once Bill’s father remarried, he collected the siblings back up and the family moved to San Francisco. They lived there for several years before moving back to the greater Los Angeles area.

Bill graduated from Pacoima High School, and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps right away, shortly before enlisting in the United States Army. He was sent overseas during World War II, until he returned to the United States and a full career in the Army Reserves. He retired from the military only after ascending to the rank of Colonel. He has always been a very patriotic person.

Bill attended UCLA for accounting, graduating in 1950 with his B.S. degree in Accounting and moving into a position as accountant for Los Angeles County. As he enjoyed telling his children while they were growing up, he graduated with “thirty-two A’s, one B, and one C.”

He eventually accepted a position as a Controller for the Los Angeles Unified School District, and held that position until retirement in 1980. Ever a motivated worker, however, he truly kept working for many years after retirement, whether as a consultant at the same LAUSD, or voluntarily for Christian charity The Mustard Seed in Glendale.

Bill married his beautiful wife, Margaret (Peggy) on June 14, 1963, and the two bought their home in Granada Hills that same year. They lived in this very home until moving to University Village in 2014.

In 1967, Bill and Peggy adopted their first child, Stephen; and in 1969 adopted their daughter, Sharon. Although Stephen now permanently lives in Tokyo Japan, the family remains close, and is very grateful for the many years they have had together.

Over their nearly fifty-nine years of marriage, Bill and Peggy travelled to many, many countries around the world, were always very active in their church, and have led a truly happy and blessed life.