William Paul Wehrly

Saturday, April 19, 2014

William Paul Wehrly passed away Thursday, April 17, 2014, surrounded by his loved ones at his home. He was 92 years old and a resident of Fairfield for 48 years. He was a wonderful father, friend, and neighbor who was always willing to lend a helping hand. He was known to most everyone as Bill. William was loved by those who knew him and will be greatly missed by all and forever in our hearts.

William was born in Ozone, Ark., and grew up in Lyndon, Kan., and Nevada, Mo. He went to work at the early age of 13 to help support his family and worked hard all of his life. He was married for 62 years to the love of his life, Florence. His greatest joy in life was his faith in God and his family. William was a very devout Catholic and a great family man who always put his family before himself.

He enlisted in the Army/Air Force and served his country in England from 1942-45, during World War II. He owned Bill's Food Market on the north side of the Square in the 50s. After his military service he became a head meat cutter and retired in 1985 from the Food Fair Store in Vacaville. In his retirement he enjoyed attending daily mass, gardening, traveling, reading, woodworking, and helping the poor.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, in 2004. Survivors include his seven children, Gerald (Cathy) of Georgetown, Calif., Robert (Roxanna) of Vancouver, Wash., Patrick (Carolotta) of St. Lucia, Fla., Marcus (Janet) of Emmett, Kan., Mary Wehrly of Suisun Valley, Calif., Cecilia (Carl) Johnson of Fairfield, Calif., and Christina (David) Watson of Sacramento, Calif.; brother, Manfred (Dorothy) Wehrly of Lenexa, Kan.; sister, Charlotte (Wallace) Broker of Phoenix, Ariz.; 23 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A mass of Christian burial for William will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 24, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, with the Rev. Michael Downey officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., at Fairfield Funeral Home, with rosary at 6 p.m. Burial with military honors will be at St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Spirit Church of Alpha Crises Pregnancy Center.

The family wishes to thank the neighbors and friends who have been so thoughtul and helpful during the last few years of his life.