Bill Stutzman

Bill was welcomed into this world on September 30th, 1964, to RuthAnn and Joseph Eugene (Sonny) Stutzman, and his older brother Joseph (Joe), born in San Diego, California. He spent the majority of his youth in Chula Vista, California, attending St. Pius Catholic School for his elementary school years, graduating at Hilltop High School in 1982. Bill was very active as a youngster, through school track teams, Boy Scouts and BMX bicycling.

Bill joined the United States Air Force in 1982, signing up for a 6 year commitment as a Security Police Officer. While in the military, he spent time in Germany and served during the invasion of Grenada in 1983. Given Bill’s courageous and noble characteristics, he volunteered to help identify the bodies of fallen Marines after the Beirut Barracks Bombing during the Lebanese Civil War in 1983. One of his most prestigious accomplishments during his career in the United States Air Force, was his promotion to Staff Sergeant – Bill being Bill, was one of the youngest to ever achieve this rank.

Bill met Donna Winn in the small town of Lompoc, California, while he was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, in 1985. They met as a random coincidence at Carl’s Jr. Restaurant on a fateful Friday night, neither of which was impressed with, or interested in the other. One of Donna’s friends was dating Bill’s roommate, and told her about this “really nice guy” she should meet and gave him Donna’s phone number. The night Bill called the phone number, the other end was answered by Donna, who recognized the voice and said “Oh my God, you are THAT guy from Carl’s Jr!” Bill quickly responded with a similar statement. Once that initial shock passed, the two talked for hours, and went on a first date soon after. They were married on August 18, 1986 in Lompoc. A mere month into their marriage, they discovered the honeymoon was “productive” and welcomed their first child, Spencer William Stutzman on June 29, 1987. Bill and Donna were blessed with their second child, Ariel Denae Stutzman, on October 18, 1992.

Bill had a unique career path, spanning from working at Frenchie’s Masonry as a teen, to serving in the USAF, mastering the art of salesmanship in the fields of automobile sales and insurance sales, managing stores such as Car Temps Rental Cars and Footlocker Shoe Store, to becoming a Workers’ Compensation Claims Adjuster for State Fund. Bill’s employment with the state of California led him on a journey through insurance examination, to a Return to Work Coordinator for the Department of Correction, onto a Use of Force Coordinator, then into Business Management Supervisory and Management roles, which ultimately led to his final home in the Fire House at Richard J. Donovan’s Correctional Facility. His first position within the Fire House was that of a Hazardous Materials Specialist, and ended as a Fire Captain. Bill was extremely proud of his role as a Fire Captain and had the honor of participating on Strike Teams during some of the infamous California wild fires.

His final journey began on his 51st birthday, when Bill was diagnosed with heart failure. Through his graceful struggle, Bill underwent multiple open heart surgeries, championing the journey with optimism, kindness and gratitude. Bill left this world on March 10th, 2016, surrounded by his wife and their children, his parents, his brothers and their wives, and some close family friends. He did not fear death and passed quickly and peacefully, engulfed with a room full of love and the tender sounds of his favorite band, Dave Matthews Band, shuffling in the background.

The Dreaming Tree, by Dave Matthews Band

Standing here

The old man said to me

Long before these crowded streets

Here stood my dreaming tree

Below it he would sit

For hours at a time

Now progress takes away

What forever took to find

And now he's falling hard

He feels the falling dark

How he longs to be

Beneath his dreaming tree

Conquered fear to climb

A moment froze in time

When the girl who first he kissed

Promised him she'd be his

Remembered mother's words

There beneath the tree

No matter what the world

You'll always be my baby

Mommy come quick

The dreaming tree has died

The air is growing thick

A fear he cannot hide

The dreaming tree has died

Oh

Have you no pity

This thing I do

I do not deny it

All through this smile

As crooked as danger

I do not deny

I know in my mind

I would leave you now

If I had the strength to

I would leave you up

To your own devices

Will you not talk

Can you take pity

I don't ask much

But won't you speak

Please

From the start

She knew she had it made

Easy up 'til then

For sure she'd make the grade

Adorers came in hordes

To lay down in her wake

She gave it all she had

But treasures slowly fade

Now she's falling hard

She feels the fall of dark

How did this fall apart

She drinks to fill it up

A smile of sweetest flowers

Wilted so and soured

Black tears stain the cheeks

That once were so admired

She thinks when she was small

There on her father's knee

How he had promised her

You'll always be my baby

Daddy come quick

The dreaming tree has died

I can't find my way home

There is no place to hide

The dreaming tree has died

Oh

If I had the strength to

I would leave you up

To your own devices

Will you not talk

Can you take pity

I don't ask much

But won't you speak

Please

Take me back

Save me please