William "Bill" Churchill

William “Bill” Edmund Churchill, 77 of Gresham OR, passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2015 due to complications from a stroke in 2002. He was born on December 25, 1937 in Battle Creek, Michigan where he graduated from Lakeview High School in 1956. Bill married his High School sweetheart, Sandra Shulters on November 23, 1957 in Battle Creek. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before working as a regional sales manager for Crouse-Hinds Electrical Manufacturing for twelve years.

In 1980 Bill relocated to Portland, Oregon and started The Agent, which he operated until 1988. He then worked for Blaze Sign as a neon glass bender and operations manager until his retirement in 2000. Bill was an avid HO train enthusiast and enjoyed remodeling and driving his Blazer up to the mountains.

Bill is survived by his wife Sandy Churchill of Gresham OR; son Michael Churchill of Los Angeles CA; daughters Lori Churchill of Portland OR and Christi Burgess (Shawn) of San Antonio TX; half-brother Bud Rouch of Beaver Island MI; uncle Robert “Jerry” Shaw and cousin Bruce “Buck” Rigney both of Battle Creek MI; grandsons Bo Peterson of Seattle WA, P. Justin Key of Denver CO and Casey Burgess of Austin TX; granddaughter Jessica Jacobson of Vancouver WA and great granddaughter Peyton Joy Jacobson. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Mike and Rita Churchill.

A Public Viewing will be held for Bill on Monday, January 4, 2016 from 1:00pm to 7:00pm at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, 520 W. Powell Blvd in Gresham, Oregon. Donations may be made to the National Stroke Association by visiting [email protected] or by calling the Stroke Helpline at 1-800-Strokes for hope after a stroke.