William McKinney Otterson

August 5, 1919-March 14, 2012

William McKinney Otterson Sr. passed away peacefully on March 14, 2012, in Atwater. He was born in Seattle on August 5, 1919 and moved to Merced in 1932 where he spent the next eighty years as a member of the community. William, always known as Bill, was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Artie Otterson; brothers, Jim and Jack Otterson; sister Jewel Chenoweth; and his beloved wife of 67 years, Billivee Barlow Otterson.

He is survived by his sisters, Marilyn Otterson of Palm Springs and Terri Lee Sampson (John) of Portland, Oregon; children, William M. Otterson Jr. (Linda) of Atwater, Philip Otterson of Chicago, and Valerie Finkbeiner (Bruce) of Spokane; grandchildren, Kristina Gunnin (Seth) and Jennifer Medeiros (Nelson); and great grandchildren, Tyce, Kendall, and Kaylee Gunnin and Mason and Myles Medeiros, all of Atwater.

After attending the University of California at Davis studying agriculture, Bill served his country in the South Pacific during World War II, attaining the enlisted rank of Technical Sergeant and then commissioned as First Lieutenant. Since World War II, Bill had been a farmer in the Merced area raising a variety of crops, yet always primarily rice, and was President of Otterson Ranch, Inc. and the Merced Rice Drier Company. He also had long been a leader in the farm industry through his valued service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Farmer’s Rice Cooperative, where he also served as president. Bill was also a Committee Member of the California Farm Bureau.

Bill had also been a longtime civic leader through his service as Vice President of the Yosemite Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as District Chairman of the Wawona District of the Boy Scouts of America, as member of the Merced Rotary and the Merced Elks, and an Elder of the Central Presbyterian Church, as member of the Board of Directors of the Merced County United Fund, as member and Chairman of the Merced City Planning Commission, and as Chairman of the Merced County Red Cross. In his later years, he was an active volunteer in the Salvation Army.

Since 1955, Bill was a member of the California State Automobile Association (CSAA), and he began his service as a member of the CSAA Board of Directors in 1968. He served as Chairman of the CSAA Board of Directors from 1983-1984 and served as a member of the American Automobile Association National Advisory Council from 1980-1986.

The family wishes to extend its deepest appreciation to Amie Marchini as well as to the professional and loving staff of Park Merced, where our father spent his last 15 months.

Contributions in Bill’s name may be made to the Central Presbyterian Church, 1920 Canal St., Merced, CA 95340 or the Salvation Army, 1440 W. 12th St., Merced, CA 95341 at 2:00 P.M.

Services are pending yet a Memorial Celebration of Bill’s life will be held at the Central Presbyterian Church in early May.

Arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.