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William Walter Nordheim Jr. February 16, 1920 - February 18, 2013 William "Bill" Nordheim passed away peacefully in his home the evening of February 18, 2013. Bill was born and raised in Whittier, California, by his parents Josephine and William "Walt" Nordheim. He attended and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1938 and Fullerton Jr. College in 1940 where he ran on the track team, competing in the hurdles. Bill went on to study at the University of California, Berkeley where he received his Civil Engineering degree in 1942. Bill married Lucile "Lucy" Tanner, also from Fullerton, in 1943. After graduation, Bill received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Navy. With the navy, Bill and Lucy traveled to Tucson where he went through officers training, and then to Boston where he worked at the naval yards. Bill was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia and then Long Beach, California before heading overseas to the Philippines where he oversaw the repair and outfitting of PT boats for the duration of World War II. After WWII, Bill worked for a small private southern California company as a civil engineer working on many projects in the greater Los Angeles area. In 1949, Bill took his first job with Standard Oil of California (now Chevron). With Chevron, Bill worked in the pipeline department in a variety of capacities until he retired as the manager of the entire California Pipeline Department. While with Chevron, Bill and Lucy moved multiple times around California: Fullerton, Taft, Concord, Bakersfield, Morro Bay/Cayucos, Kettleman City, and Walnut Creek. In 1969 he moved to El Paso, Texas, to run the Chevron Pipeline Division covering the west central US. In 1980, he returned to Bakersfield where he managed the California Pipeline Division until he retired in 1982. Bill and Lucy were blessed with a loving companionship for over 67 years, and over the years Bill and Lucy made many friends as they moved with Bill's job with Chevron Pipeline. Bill was a member of several organizations with a particular interest in the Lions Club, the Fullerton JC Prospector's Club, and the Chevron Bakersfield Retiree Club. After retiring he helped his wife Lucy at the Assistance League where he dedicated many years to helping improve and maintain their facilities. Bill was an avid fisherman, an accomplished gardener who loved growing roses, and he was a loyal Dodger fan. Bill and Lucy enjoyed traveling to spend time with their children and families, as well as many vacations to Colorado, Kauai and Ventura, where Dad loved both the mountains and the beach. Bill's sister Marjorie Stevens; sons Mark and his wife Tracy of Folsom, California, Alan and his wife Tracie of Houston, Texas; daughters Carole and husband Larry Kirk of Vancouver, Washington, Lynne and husband Mark Northcutt of Keizer Oregon; along with 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren will deeply miss his nurturing and keen sense of humor. Visitation will be Saturday, March 2, from 4-8 p.m. with services on Sunday March 3 at 1 p.m. both at Hillcrest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hoffmann Hospice of Bakersfield at: hoffmannhospice.org. A special thanks to his friends from Alternative Care and Hoffmann Hospice who provided loving care for Bill.
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