William "Bill" Francis Avitabile, 86, died on December 3, 2009, in Lompoc. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Bill was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 6, 1923, to Frank and Filomena Avitabile. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1931. He graduated from St. Monica's High School in Santa Monica, CA, and attended Loyola University until he enlisted in the United States Army in 1945. He married his childhood sweetheart, Maryfrancis St. Peter, on July 9, 1945. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1954 where they lived and raised their seven children. Bill and Mary moved to Lompoc, CA, in 1985.
Bill was employed by the State of California Dept. of Veterans Affairs from 1954 until his retirement. He was an active member of San Roque Parrish and the Bishop High Dads' Club. A member of the Knights of Columbus in both Santa Barbara and Lompoc, he was a past Grand Knight, and received his 50-year pin in 2008.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Maryfrancis, and children: Suzanne Roberts (Tom), Jennifer Moore, Sharon Cooper (Ron), William (Catherine), Rosemary Einolander (Warren), Phillip (Karen), and Maryfrancis Johnson (Eric); his grandchildren: Linda, Barbara, Gina, Christina, Patricia, Robert, Margaret, Mario, Dominic, Joseph, Dante, Anthony, Francis, Maria, Rafael, Emily, Vanessa, Madalyn, Nathan, and Nina; and great-grandchildren: Jacob, Ella, Elise, Andrew, and Susannah. He is also survived by his sister, Constance Schmidt, and several nieces and nephews.
A rosary service will be held at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 3495 Rucker Road, Lompoc, CA, on Tuesday, December 8, at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, December 9, at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, followed by burial at Lompoc Cemetery, 600 South C Street, Lompoc, CA. Services are under the care of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.