William "Bill" Gauthier

William "Bill" Gauthier, 93, of Florence and formerly of Union County, died peacefully April 3 at his home of age-related causes. No services are planned. Burns Riverside Chapel Florence Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bill was born Feb. 22, 1918 in La Grande, the youngest of five children. His family relocated to Cove where Bill grew up. While at Cove High School, he participated in sports, theater and farm chores. Those who knew him say those farm chores were a great motivator for Bill, who attended Oregon State following graduation from high school. Even though he rode steers at the county fair, there would be no farming in his future.

Around the time he was in college, he began dating a long-time acquaintance from Union County. LaVaughn Burford and Bill were married in 1941, the same year he went to work for Lockheed Aircraft Co. in Burbank, Calif.

Bill and LaVaughn raised their four children in Lancaster and Glendale, Calif., as well as Bad Godesburg, Germany. In 1976, following Bill's first retirement, they moved to Greentrees in Florence. He re-entered the workforce in 1978 to help develop a corporate jet at Gulfstream America. He then returned to Lockheed's "Skunk Works" where he worked at "Area 51" on the F-117 Stealth Fighter. In 1987, Bill and LaVaughn returned to Greentrees.

Bill was preceded in death by his siblings, Floyd Gauthier, Gladys Day, Mildred Gauthier and Alice Godsey. Also preceding him were his daughter, Janet Gauthier, as well as his wife, and love, LaVaughn.

He is survived by his children, Richard and Mary Gauthier of Westlake, Wayne and Susan Gauthier of LaCanada, Calif., and Roger Gauthier of San Jose, Calif.; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

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