Dee and Bill Lake

William Haydock Lake (Bill) and Diane Wooton Marcil Lake (Dee) are together once again to continue their eternal love story. William Haydock Lake (April 12, 1927 – July 27, 2010) was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Frederick C. Lake and Emily Haydock Lake. Bill was an Eagle Scout and served in the US Navy during WWII. Following his service, he graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering and moved to Los Angeles, California to begin his career with Hughes Aircraft.

Diane Wooton Marcil Lake (February 13, 1931 – May 19, 2019) was born in Trenton, New Jersey to George Edward Marcil and Dorothy Wooton Marcil. Dee spent her early childhood living on the east coast before moving to Los Angeles, California. Dee graduated from Los Angeles City College with an Associate of Arts degree and began working for Hughes Aircraft, as well. Shortly thereafter, Bill and Dee independently chose to participate in a Hughes Aircraft sponsored Singles Cruise to Catalina Island.

Bill and Dee met for the first time on Friday, May 22, 1953 and Bill proposed three days later on Monday, May 25. They were married on August 15, 1953 and had been married just shy of 58 years when Bill passed in 2010. It was their wish to forgo any services at the time of Bill’s passing so they could be celebrated together at the time of Dee’s passing, as together was how they both were happiest. Following their celebration of life, they will be scattered together, in a private ceremony, in the Catalina Channel where their story began.

Bill and Dee’s lives’ together were truly a love story of epic proportion, where their love and relationship was always the focal point of their existence. Their four children, Dorothy “Dotti” Lake Buhler (Jeff), Meri Lake Hoopingarner (Rick), William “Bill” H. Lake, Jr. (Melinda), and Georgette “Gigi” Lake Case (Anthony), nine grandchildren (Meri, Cassie, Nick, Bill III, Crystal, Mike, Josh, Megan, and Vance), and numerous great grandchildren were all well-loved accessories to their story. During their lives together they lived in the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley area, Pacific Palisades, Wilmington, Pismo Beach, and finally Santa Maria. Following Bill’s passing, Dee relocated to Mission Viejo to be closer to Meri and Rick, who lovingly provided Dee the support she needed during the last few years of her life.