OBITUARY FROM THE CHINOOK (ASTORIA, OR) OBSERVER WEBSITE:
LONG BEACH — William J. Stoltz was born Feb. 19, 1940, and passed away Sept. 22, 2024, in Long Beach, Washington, with his wife by his side.
He was born to George P. and Leota A (Buss) Stoltz in Gary, Indiana. He graduated from Hobart High School in Hobart, Indiana, in June 1958.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army, and began his career that lasted 28½ years. He rose to the rank of command sargeant major. He met and married Joan Doherty in April 1961, when he was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. They have three children.
Over the course of his career, they moved to Europe, Central America, Asia and several U.S. states. Upon retiring to Long Beach, he worked for Stan Hill at his Ilwaco gas station, and at Washington State Parks as a park aide, then as a park ranger.
After his retirement from Washington State Parks, he enjoyed fixing old boat motors that didn’t run (and he has a collection of them), and also chain saws for others. He also liked doing yard work, planting flowers, weeding and mowing. He even would hook up a trailer to his riding lawn mower and ride his great-grandkids around the yard.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joan; daughters, Angela Stoltz and Patty Stoltz; son, William (Melissa) Stoltz; grandchildren, Sean McHenry, Emily (Michael) Stoeff, Jessica (Stephen) Taylor, Jacqueline Stoltz and Kimberly Stoltz; great-grandchildren, Seth Robertson, Faith and Dominic Taylor, Jackson and Alec Stoltz and Paige, Gavin and Parker Stoeff; brothers, John (Toni) Oslizo and Steve (Ada) Oslizo; sister, Louise Alfono; sister-in-law, Ramona Oslizo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by both parents; a brother, Michael Oslizo; a granddaughter, Terrie McHenry; and a great-grandson, Stevie Taylor.
A few days before he died, he told me that when you die, you get a brand-new OD green jeep. So, I’m assuming that is what he is doing now. Driving it around smiling.
Penttila’s Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
This information and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.chinookobserver.com/obituaries/obituary-william-j-stoltz/article_3338c936-7f74-11ef-ab58-3f3b01baf3a6.html.
