Lasting Memories

Wilford Walter Noeller
Oct. 19, 1924-Aug. 22, 2012
Palo Alto, California

Wilford W. (Bill) Noeller, 87, a 62-year resident of Palo Alto, died peacefully at home on Aug. 22.

He was born Oct. 19, 1924, in Hughson, Calif., and grew up on the family ranch on the Tuolumne River. Bill served in the Navy as a Pharmacist's Mate aboard ship and in Guadalcanal during World War II. He earned an A.A. degree in Agriculture at Modesto Junior College after the war, and received his private pilot's license.

In 1949 he married Betty Jane Reeves of Turlock, Calif. They moved to Palo Alto in 1950 when Bill began working as a Palo Alto Police Officer. In 1956 he went to work at Hewlett-Packard, retiring from HP after 31 years. Bill was an outdoorsman all his life, hiking the John Muir Trail, fishing in the Sierras and Carmel Valley, and rafting the Grand Canyon.

After retirement he enjoyed walking at Rancho San Antonio and the Palo Alto Baylands. He remodeled his own and his daughter's home, and built a cabin in Felton. Bill also went with his family on many road trips throughout the west, as well as to the East Coast and Alaska.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Linda Dillon of Palo Alto; daughter and son-in-law, Jennie Noeller and George Paulsen of Los Altos; granddaughters, Janet Dillon Owen, Katie Dillon Pfenninger, Elizabeth Paulsen, Lindsay Dillon and Caroline Paulsen; grandson-in-law, Marc Pfenninger; great-grandsons, Cameron Owen, Cooper Owen and Max Pfenninger; and brother, Francis Noeller of Hughson. He was predeceased by his wife Betty Noeller and his brother Fritz Noeller.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto.