William Peter Pontarolo Sr.

Bill Pontarolo, 85, of Walla Walla passed away on December 7, 2013 at his home surrounded by family. He was born on June 29, 1928 in Pasco WA to John and Lena Cavalli Pontarolo. The family moved to Yakima where he was an accomplished baseball player at Yakima High School. While there, he made friends that he continued to keep in contact with through his later years. He was an Army Veteran serving at many posts, eventually being stationed in Germany. While in Germany, he was able travel and see a lot of Europe. It was during this time, that he trained to repair radio signal equipment and was selected to play on a baseball team that would travel throughout Europe to entertain the troops.

After the service, Bill moved back to Yakima. It was during a summer in Walla Walla working for his Uncle Ben Cavalli Sr. in onion harvest, that he met Joan Fazzari through mutual friends. They married April 25, 1954 at St Francis Catholic Church where together they were lifelong members. They had been married 53 years when the one true love of his life Joan passed away in early 2008. Bill was a devoted husband and family man who took great pride and interest in his 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren participate in sporting events.

It was shortly after his service in the Army that he started a career in office and machine repair. Initially starting in Spokane, he made his way back to Walla Walla to start an office machine repair business in his garage in 1971 and eventually Pontarolo’s on Main St in Walla Walla before retiring in 1995.

Bill particularly enjoyed family summer vacation trips to the Oregon Coast. After retirement, he and Joan continued to travel and meet with friends and family in the northwest, usually ending up on the Oregon Coast.

Bill is survived by his four children Bill ( Lisa), Bob (Lynn), Nick (Adele), and Rick all of Walla Walla; his grandchildren, Michael, David, Rocky, Angela (Brooks), Billy, Paige, and Parker. He is also survived by his Aunt Rhea Lucarelli of Walla Walla, Aunt Ida Cavalli of St Louis, brothers and sister-in-laws Mike Jr. (Doris) Fazzari of Walla Walla, Carol (Ed) Stephan of Spokane and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Fazzari Pontarolo, his parents, his brother, Roy (Rose) of Orange Grove CA, his brother and sister-in-law Rudy (Lavelle) Fazzari, and numerous uncles and aunts.

There will be a Rosary at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2013. Viewing and visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 12, 2013 through the Rosary. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013, at St Francis Church. Burial will follow the Mass at Mountain View Cemetery and a reception will be held in the St. Francis Hall to celebrate his life.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St Francis Catholic Church, Walla Walla Community Hospice or a charity of choice through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.