Cannon, William “Bill” Ralph, age 74, of San Diego, California, passed away at Balboa Naval Hospital the morning of November 27, 2021, after battling cancer and Parkinson’s for over 14 years. Bill was born in Burlington, Colorado, but grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, where he had many childhood friends. He attended high school at Pueblo South High School and graduated in 1965.
Bill served his country for 25 years while serving in two branches of the military. At the age of 19, he was drafted into the United States Army and served during the Vietnam war era. After five years with the Army, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy, which brought him and his family to San Diego. He held different positions in the Navy and received numerous awards and recognition including, “Sailor of the Year”, and received both the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Bill retired from the Navy with twenty years of service.
He was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Diego and taught Sunday School for many years. After his military career, Bill opened and operated a successful carpet cleaning business. He serviced both residential homes and small businesses and cleaned the San Diego LDS Temple regularly.
Bill was intelligent, had a quick wit, a keen sense of humor, and loved a good Western! He had many hobbies, such as playing basketball, racquetball, golf, and tennis. He enjoyed board and card games, collecting coins and comics, and tinkering with anything mechanical or handyman tools.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; two daughters, Stacy and Stephanie; ex-wife Myrlene and their children, Darrell, Pamela, Celestie, Trever, William, and Quincy; sixteen grandchildren; one great-grandchild; siblings, Dean, Cheryl, Cindy, Bobby, and Shelley; as well as other extended family. Preceding him in death is his father, Wilmot “Red”; mother, Annabelle; grandparents, William “Jack” and Alice; brother, Dale; as well as other extended family and close friends.
Per his wishes, there will be a graveside service at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at Mountain Vale Memorial Park in Canon City, Colorado. He will be buried with his grandparents, William “Jack” and Alice Thornton.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in William “Bill’s” name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or Skin Cancer Foundation.
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