William Arthur Glock Jr.

¬Bill Glock will be remembered as a devoted father and husband and as a friend who was always ready to lend a helping hand and had a story to entertain. He was a proud Veteran, a creative artist, a beekeeper and a farmer.

William (Bill) Arthur Glock Jr. was born on May 31st 1944 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Roswell, New Mexico to Jean Madigan Glock and William Adolph Glock. He was the second of four children and is survived by his brother Robert Glock of Tucson, AZ. His sisters Elizabeth (Libby) Glock Revell of San Pedro, CA and Anne Glock of Beaumont, CA preceded him in death.

Bill’s parents moved to Beaumont, California in 1952. Except for his time in the U.S. Army, he lived in Beaumont for the past 58 years. Bill and his siblings all attended Precious Blood Catholic School in Banning, CA. Bill went on from there to Beaumont High School, as a member of the Class of 1963. He started working at the age of twelve by helping out at Three Rings Ranch, where his father worked. During his childhood, he also served as an altar boy at Beaumont’s San Gorgonio Catholic Church.

In 1964, Bill became a volunteer firefighter for the California Department of Forestry. Bill left Beaumont in 1967, volunteering for the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He served in the Southeast Asia theater from 1967 to 1968, working as a Light Vehicle Driver in Thailand. His Army service also included time at Fort Monroe, Virginia; Fort Mead, Maryland; and two years in Germany (1969-70). Following his time in Germany, Bill returned stateside and transferred to the US Army Reserve until 1973. Upon returning to Beaumont, Bill went to work for Brey Electric as an electrician from 1971-1975 and Hemecino Electric from 1975-1977.

He met and married Regina Cooper of Hemet, CA in 1973. They were married for 30 years and had four children. He is survived by his daughter, Natasha Luckett of Apollo Beach, FL and her husband Commander Michael Luckett, U.S.Navy; his son, William Arthur Glock II of Glenwood Springs, CO and his wife Brittney Glock; and his daughter Autumn Glock of Arcata, CA. He is preceded in death by his son, Sean Daniel Glock. He is also survived by three grandchildren by son William and daughter-in-law Brittney: Deatra, Austin, and Chloe Glock.

In 1977, Bill started his career with Valspar Corporation, working as their Lead Maintenance Electrician. During his 22-year career with Valspar, he was awarded their most prestigious recognition award, given annually to Valspar's top 15 most deserving employees. This ELITE Award recognizes employees who demonstrate continual outstanding performance in doing the highest quality work over a sustained period of time. After retiring from Valspar in 1999, Bill went into business for himself for a time as a beekeeper, following his father’s tradition. Throughout his life, the Beaumont community often called upon him to safely remove swarms of bees from many churches, schools, and homes. In 2010, he survived being stung by over 100 bees at one time. He went to work for the Maintenance Department of Beaumont Unified School District in 2003, leaving there due to illness in 2007.

Bill and Gina built their farmhouse on Eighth Street in Beaumont in 1978, where he lived for the next 32 years. During that time, they ran a Christmas tree farm, maintained a giant vegetable garden, and raised a wide variety of mundane and exotic animals, including a pair of emus.

Bill was an avid desert naturalist. As a "Jaeger Palaverite," he attended the Jaeger Desert Palavers, which focused on the conservation and natural history of the California Desert. He attended his first Palaver in 1984, and attended every one after that for over 25 years. He spent years exploring California’s many deserts, sharing his love for the land with young people by teaching them about the native flora and fauna.

Bill was an avid folk artist and award-winning photographer. Many of his themes came from the deserts that he loved so much. His art media included wood and rock creations as well as using welding and industrial materials. His barb wire wreaths with chili peppers, desert walking sticks, gourd totems, cowboy boot birdhouses, and toll painting are a tribute to a family of artists who have captured the enduring scenes of the Southwest for over 75 years.

His hobbies included model rocketry, stained glass creations, ship and airplane models, old-fashioned camp cooking, pie baking and especially gardening. He leaves behind a diverse collection of California succulents and cacti on his Beaumont farm. Bill also was an avid hunter and gun enthusiast. He was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the National Rifle Association.

In addition to his children, brother, and former wife, Bill is survived by his loving companion of over 7 years, Shirley Andrews of Beaumont; his niece Michelle Revell, who served as his caregiver, and her three sons; numerous other nieces and nephews; and his two closest friends, Russ Russell (formerly of Cherry Valley, CA) and Pete McAleer (of El Cerrito, CA).

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America. Memorial services, including full military honors, will be held at Riverside National Cemetery, Staging Area #1, on January 14th at 10:00 AM. A family memorial and wake for both Bill and his sister Mary Anne Glock will be held following the services at Bill’s home in Beaumont.

Arrangements entrusted to Weaver Mortuary, Beaumont (951)845-1141.