William Eldred Berry

William “Bill” Eldred Berry
died Tuesday, November 1, 2016
at Providence St. Mary Medical
Center.
Bill was the first born of two sons
to William and Vivian (Patterson)
Berry on October 25, 1929. He
attended Edison Elementary
and Walla Walla High School
graduating in 1948. On March 1,
1959 he married the love of his life,
Carla Sabins. They shared 57 years of marriage and had two
sons, William “Bill” Shannon Berry and Michael “Mike” Brian
Berry.
On April 2, 1951 Bill joined the Walla Walla Fire Department.
He served the City of Walla Walla for 27 years as a firefighter,
fire engineer, and finally as a fire lieutenant, retiring April 16,
1978. Bill was proud of his profession and his service to the
community. Both his father and brother were firefighters. His
brother, Ted, worked with him at the City of Walla Walla Fire
Department. Bill was fond of saying that firefighting was a
family occupation!
Bill enjoyed the outdoors. He
was an avid fisherman, hunter and
archer. One of his favorite memories
was bringing down a black bear with
his bow. He had the bear made into
a rug which he cherished and gifted
to his grandchildren.
Bill enjoyed spending as much
time as possible at his beloved cabin on the South Fork of the
Walla Walla River. Many days were shared there with family
and friends. Bill was a lifetime member of the Walla Walla
Elks Lodge #287 and enjoyed many happy times there. Bill was
preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ted in 1988, and
his son Bill Berry in 2012.
Surviving Bill are his wife, Carla, son Mike Berry of Gresham,
OR, grandchildren Rachel (Sean)Kelly of Chesapeake, VA, Jacob
Berry of Quantico, VA, Aaron Berry of Huntingtown, MD,
Daughter-in-law Kathleen Berry of Huntingtown, MD, nieces
Colleen Berry of Boulder, CO, Cathy Atkinson of Spokane,
WA, Lisa Forster, Spokane, WA, Andrea Dressler, College Place,
nephew Kevin Berry of Issaquah, WA, sister-in-law, Joan Berry
Summers of Walla Walla, sister-in-law and brother-in-law
Connie and Jack Pinza, Walla Walla. He also had numerous
other nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
Arrangements are through the Herring Groseclose Funeral
Home. Viewing will be from 4 pm to 7 pm November 7, 2016.
Funeral services will be at 2 pm on November 8, 2016 at Herring
Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla with
internment following at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens.
Pastor Skip Pritchard of College Place Presbyterian Church
will officiate. The Walla Walla Fire Department Honor Guard
(IAFF Local 404) will provide casket watch, color guard and
pallbearers.
Donations in Bill’s name may be made to the Walla Walla
Christian Aid Center or the Blue Mountain Humane Society