William "Bill" Frederick Tolles

William Frederick Tolles, 86, died Dec. 31 at his home in Island City after a lengthy battle with heart disease.

Funeral services begin at 1 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel followed by graveside services and military honors at Hillcrest Cemetery. A viewing will run from 10 a.m. to noon Friday.

Bill was born June 19, 1921, to Romine F. Tolles and Clarissa G. Henry Tolles in Rulo, Neb. In 1938, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. After boot camp he was assigned to the battleship USS Nevada. Bill served on the USS Nevada during the battle of Pearl Harbor, manning a five inch anti-aircraft gun throughout the invasion. He was decorated with the Purple Heart for wounds received.

While the ship was being repaired at Bremerton Naval Yards he met his sweetheart Mary L. Meranda and they were married Oct. 31, 1942. Upon completion of the ship's repairs, Bill was sent to the North Pacific and fought in the Aleutian Island campaign.

Later in the war, Bill was stationed on the East Coast and was assigned to the battleship USS Missouri and served in the North Atlantic. He also had the honor of crossing the equator and being initiated as a Shell Back.

After the war Bill moved his family to the Grande Ronde Valley at which time he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad until being laid off.

He then moved his family to Leavenworth, Kan., where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a prison guard at the Leavenworth Military Prison during the Korean Conflict.

After his discharge from the Army in 1953 the family moved back to La Grande. Bill worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and was transferred to Hinkle where he was briefly employed until he landed a job with the Army Corps of Engineers at McNary Dam.

Upon retiring he and Mary lived in Palmer Junction, La Grande and Island City.

Bill's family was the most important part of his life. He loved fishing, hunting and the Blue Mountains.

Bill was a member of the Hermiston Masonic Lodge, past member of the La Grande Elks Lodge, member of the La Grande American Legion, Union VFW and a NRA member.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years; daughter, Mary and her husband, Jim Gray, and Donna and her husband, Scott Hartley; four siblings; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many friends, especially the children of the Swanson family. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, William A. Tolles; four grandsons; and two siblings.

Memorial contributions may be made to La Grande Hospice, Shriners Children's Hospital or St. Jude's Children's Cancer Hospital.