William L. (Bill) Blodgett, 72, passed away at his home in Oak Harbor on July 23, 2010. Bill was born Jan. 28, 1938, in Fairplay, Colo. At age six, Bill moved to Denver where he spent his formative years and met the love of his life, Margaret Nichols. Margaret’s family quickly became as his. Bill began his naval career in February 1955, attending boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill. After a duty assignment in Coco Solo, Panama, Bill returned home to marry Margaret in Denver on June 23, 1957, and the two set out for far places together. Bill and Margaret spent many years stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and made the island their home.

Bill retired from the Navy as a First Class Petty Officer in June 1976. Post retirement he attended mechanics school at Skagit Valley College and worked briefly for Mike’s Sport Shop in Oak Harbor. Bill was an outstanding and often requested mechanic at Berg Ford for 21 years. After retiring from Berg Ford in 2000, Bill put many hours into various hobbies, particularly building and flying RC airplanes and RV traveling.

Never one to sit on the sidelines and always animated, Bill had a way of throwing himself into anything active. Margaret always at his side, he enjoyed many interests throughout his life from pool diving as a teenager, to motocross racing and boating in his 30’s, and competitive firearms tournaments with son Mike in his 40’s. For a period of time he enjoyed sewing his own stunt kites and even taught himself to ride a unicycle. Bill loved salmon fishing with son Ken, camping and roughhousing with his three grandchildren.

An aviation enthusiast, Bill was a member of RC Flying Club Whidbey Island Radio Control Society. He was a Life Member of VFW Post 7392, and a member of the Oak Harbor Senior Center.

Bill is preceded in death by son William J. Blodgett. He is survived by loving wife, Margaret, sons Kenneth and Michael, grandchildren Sara, Nicholas, and Amy, and great-grandchild Aiden. He will be sorely missed by all.

No formal funeral services will be conducted.