Obituary of William Clinton Luce

Bill, age 86, continued on to his final adventure peacefully on Sunday, July 13, 2014 with his family by his side. He was born the second of three children to Col. Dean and Amelia (Hoskins) Luce on January 18, 1928. Having been born into a military family, Bill had the opportunity to travel and have many adventures. When he was very young and the family was living in Hawaii, Bill discovered his love of swimming and diving. One time when his mom came down to the pool to check on him (his older brother, Dean, was supposed to be watching him), she saw Bill as he was jumping off of the 40-foot diving board. She just turned around and left. When the family was in the Philippines on Corregidor, the adventures continued. They had a pet monkey named Gooloo. Bill—being Bill—was ornery to Gooloo. Bill always had to look before he went outside. Once Bill didn’t see him and Gooloo attacked and bit the back of Bill’s head. When the military started sending families off the Philippine Islands, Bill and Dean were able to take a transport by themselves across the Pacific Ocean and through the Panama Canal to Virginia. The family lived at Ft. Monroe, Virginia, later in Washington, D.C., and at Ft. Baker, CA, among others. Bill served two years in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Okinawa. Following his discharge, he joined the National Guard and returned to high school, graduating with the Class of 1949 at Olympia High School. He then attended St. Martin College. While finishing high school, his sister Carol introduced him to her friend, Betty Hestand. Bill and Betty had their first date in September 1948 and were married on May 18, 1951. They continued their adventure together, moving into their home on Elliott where they lived for 55 years and where they raised their family. Bill was an outgoing, friendly man who never met a stranger. He also enjoyed a good joke. Bill played golf and also enjoyed bowling, swimming and watching sports and old western movies. Most of all, Bill loved his family and always liked having family and friends over for a gathering, whether it was for a meal, to play games or just talk. Bill worked at the Olympia Armory National Guard for many years, long enough for his kids to hang out and get to know the ins and outs of the Armory. In the early 1960s, he went to work at the Olympia Brewing Company, working maintenance in the bottler division, retiring in 1990. Bill and Betty took two trips across the country to see family and see the sights. Bill was the neighborhood dad. Because he worked the graveyard shift, he could watch all the kids’ sporting events. He loved being with them. A neighbor boy came to the family door one day, knocked and asked if Mr. Luce could come out and play; there was a game of some sort going on in the yard and they wanted him to join in. His presence will be greatly missed. Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty; his four children, Caroline, Julie (Rick) Watts, Paul, and Megan (Art Snyder) Hatcher; granddaughter, Kaydee Hatcher; and a host of extended family. His parents, older brother, Dean, and younger sister, Carol, preceded him in death. Memorial donations may be made to the Diabetes Association or American Legion of Olympia. Please leave memories of Bill or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.