William "Bill" Lee Schwerin

William Lee “Bill” Schwerin passed away on February 28, 2023, following four years of brain cancer. He was 78 years old.

Bill was born November 1, 1944, to Robert and Frances Schwerin in Walla Walla.

A 1963 graduate of Walla Walla High School, he served as student body president. Following the family tradition, he attended Washington State University, graduating in 1967 with a degree in Agricultural Science. Bill came home to the family farm and raised wheat and peas with his father and grandfather. He married his high school sweetheart, Lynda Barritt, in 1966. They had two children:  son, Stan Schwerin of Walla Walla and daughter, Abigail of Platinum, Alaska.

Always looking ahead for something new and better, Bill pioneered other crops, raising some of the first canola, garbanzo beans, and dryland potato seed in the Walla Walla Valley. In the 1980s, Bill and his father developed a manufacturing process to improve the efficiency of a critical part of a combine: the concave. This process led to the creation of a manufacturing business that built and distributed Schwerin Concaves nationwide. Bill was very involved with the Washington State Wheat Growers Association, serving as President in 1989 and convening the first tri-State wheat growers’ convention, bringing together agricultural leaders from Oregon, Idaho, and Washington to pool their strengths and influence in support of wheat growing in the Pacific Northwest. Bill was instrumental in the creation of and funding for the O.A. Vogel Endowed Chair in Wheat Breeding and Genetics at Washington State University, ensuring that the best scientists could do their work to make Washington wheat truly the world’s best.

After retiring from farming, Bill turned his considerable energy and vision to winemaking. He started Sapolil Cellars as a tiny space within his wife’s furniture store. The tasting room soon took over all the space in the store, added a kitchen, and became one of Walla Walla’s first live music venues, a fun and friendly spot on Main Street where Bill remembered everyone’s names and occasionally danced on the top of the piano. Bill was also a leader in changing regulations to allow wineries to be open on Sundays and pushed hard for outdoor seating, both of which have boosted Walla Walla’s appeal and economy.

Bill was an avid skier, pilot, bicyclist, motorcyclist, and white-water kayaker. He loved people and was known as the life of the party. He loved children, especially his own, and was always their champion.

Those who knew and loved him will remember his colorful character and adventurous spirit.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Larry Schwerin, and sister-in-law, Carol Schwerin. He is survived by his wife, Lynda; son, Stan (wife Kim Witherspoon); daughter, Abigail; brother, Don (wife Anne-Marie); cousins, Kyle and Sharon; and many dear nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 2:00 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice or a charity of choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.