Arthur "Bill" Waldron

Oct 5, 1925 -

May 22, 2020

Arthur Leslie "Bill" Waldron, age 94, passed away on May 22, 2020, in Mesa, Ariz. Bill was born in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 5, 1925.

In 1936, the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, via the Alaska Steamship Company. Soon after, Bill's father founded Anchorage Sand and Gravel, which became a family enterprise that Bill worked at and helped to manage until the family sold the business in the mid-60s.

Bill was a veteran of World War II and served on Attu Island. Later he became active in Kiwanis and Civil Air Patrol, receiving a medal and a congressional award for his service.

The early 70s brought Bill back to his beloved Nancy Lake to live and work, where he operated Nancy Lake Marina with his good friend Don Rust for many years. He loved to operate his Sternwheeler, the MV Michel B. Ardaw, and give people rides and tours around the lake.

Retirement in the early 90s found him spending more time with his antique cars. The '39 Ford, his favorite, was driven on several tours with the Antique Auto Mushers, in Alaska and the Yukon Territory.

Bill and Donna also began RVing the west coast, visiting friends and relatives in Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona, eventually becoming "snowbirds" and then "winter residents" in Mesa.

Alaska and Nancy Lake were always home. At his request, his ashes will be placed on Waldron Island, in Nancy Lake and at Waldron's Pond Memorial Cemetery later this summer. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Donna; three stepchildren, Cindy, Gordy and Mike; his four children from the marriage to his first wife, Lorraine Saxton Waldron: Billie Grace, Linda, Leslie and Loran; and their children and grandchildren.

His loving family wrote: "Our Dad was a hardworking man and a great father. He expected and encouraged us to always do our best, and he lived by example. He supported us when we tried new things and chased our ideas. When we hit a snag or problem, he helped us think things through and figure out a way to make it work. He was a great role model and a wonderful man. A kid couldn't have asked for a better Dad or Grandad." He was very proud to be the father of four; grandfather of nine, Lori, Jason, Tori, Ryan, Jeff, Tiffany, Brian, Julia and Melody; and great-grandfather of 12, Gabi, Aidan, Sebastian, Ainsley, Arionna, Brianna, Semara, Brooklyn, Cannon, William, Lily and Olivia.