William Otis Reynolds

passed away on Saturday, November 21, 2009 with his family by his side.Bill was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1923, the youngest child of Roy and Augusta Reynolds' two children. He graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. Soon thereafter he enlisted in the United States Navy. After becoming an officer and training as a fighter pilot, Bill was stationed at Wildwood NAS in New Jersey. There he met and later married Carmen Rodriguez, a Navy Wave. After his separation from active duty, Bill and Carmen moved to Albuquerque where he attended the University of New Mexico. Bill maintained his flight status as a pilot in the Naval Reserves and was a part time Deputy Sheriff for the University. He later worked on an atomic research operation for the Sandia Corporation. While in Albuquerque, he helped establish and build a new church, which, in later years, became the Regina Caeli Catholic Church.In 1953, Bill took a job in civil defense in Spokane, Washington in order to be closer to his Seattle roots. A few years later Bill and his family moved to the Seattle area where he worked with the Boeing Airplane Company. Bill and Carmen settled in Bellevue, Washington with their 6 children. While raising their children, Bill was a very active volunteer at Sacred Heart Church, the Overlake Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts, the Girls Scouts, along with numerous other activities, that his children and wife were constantly volunteering him for. Never one to sit around, Bill had no time to himself as he was always helping others.After the trials and tribulations of raising their 6 children, 31 years with the Boeing Company as an Engineering Supervisor, and 27 years in the Naval Reserves, Bill and Carmen retired to a family property in Kingston, Washington, where Bill built, almost by himself, their "new" home.In retirement Bill got busy. As an active member in the Kingston Community, Bill started the Kingston Historical Society, was elected as a commissioner for the port of Kingston, was a past Commodore of Kingston Cove Yacht Club, a Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator of the Knights of Columbus, President of the Kingston Cemetery Association, and a former President of the Kingston Seniors Center. He helped fund raise for Kingston's annual 4th of July celebrations. He was also an active member of St. Olaf Catholic Church. Someone once asked, "Where is 80 year old Bill?" The answer, "he is down the street helping the old folks". Bill had a long list of friends, widows and elderly that he always helped, be it plumbing, electrical, fixing, repairing, or building something. He would take them where they needed to go and had keys to a half-dozen houses, so he could take care of them too. All this volunteer work took its tole on Bill, during an argument with a table saw he managed to lose the tops of two fingers. Bill had a sideline engraving business that never quite seemed to make a profit. He engraved plaques, name-tags, trophies, signs and anything anyone needed, usually with no charge.Bill is survived by his wife, Carmen; having celebrated 64 years of marriage this last April. In addition to 6 children: Son, William Reynolds (Jeanne); Daughter, Patricia Larson (Robert); Son, Richard Reynolds (Dorreene); Son John Reynolds (Brenda); Son, Robert Reynolds (Cristine); Daughter, Teresa Ellis (John); Bill has 8 Grandchildren, 3 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great-Grandchild.Memorial Services are to be held at St Olaf's Catholic Church, 18943 Caldart Ave. N.E. Poulsbo, Washington 98370 (Caldart off Lincoln), at 1:00pm on Saturday, the 5th of December, 2009.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Kitsap Fire & Rescue Household Fund at 26642 Miller Bay Road N.E. Kingston, Washington 98346.