He was a Graduate Cum Laude of St. Mary's University with a double major in History and Spanish. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army as a postal clerk in Europe. In 1972, he retired as a supervisor from the U.S. Postal Service after a long and distinguished career.
William loved to paint and in 1956, he entered a design contest for a new pictorial issue of stamps. His design of a "Clove Spray" commemorating the flowers of the clove tree, Zanzibar's contribution to the world's well being was chosen as a new stamp for Zanzibar.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Zulema and is survived by his niece, Julieta Garcia Bates and her husband, Robert.
