William “Bill” C. Fletcher was born in Watsonville, Calif., and spent his youth growing up on Alameda in the Bay area. After attending Alameda High, Bill enlisted in the Navy and began a 32-year career as a Navy corpsman. He was attached to the Marine Corps for three tours of Vietnam serving and saving the lives of American soldiers.  During his Vietnam service, he received two Purple Hearts having been wounded in battle.

He married Karen Anderson in 1963 before beginning his sea duty. They had three children, Tracy (Pittak) Fletcher, William Fletcher Jr., who died in infancy, and Christian Fletcher. Karen bore the pride and uncertainty of her husband’s 32 years of service. After Bill’s retirement in 1989, Bill worked in the nuclear plant in Monticello. They moved to Glenwood, where Bill worked for a computer firm. After being laid off, he enrolled in the University of Minnesota, Morris receiving triple degrees. Karen passed away after 23 years of marriage. 

He met and married Martha (Achter) Fletcher. Paired as dance partners, together they participated in 18 community theater productions. Bill and Martha spent two years in Fargo, N.D., where Bill worked as a research assistant for the Gulf War illness drawing in and serving the greatest number of participants in the nation due to Bill’s own war experiences. Bill and Martha then spent 12 years as snowbirds in Mesa, Ariz., before purchasing their own little piece of paradise there. Bill loved his hot rod truck. He belonged to several car clubs in the Valley. When talking Navy or vehicles, Bill was full of stories.

Bill survived multiple illnesses, possibly triggered by his war experiences. He passed peacefully cared for by Hospice of the Valley and their compassionate, skilled staff on June 13, 2017.

Surviving are his wife, Martha (Achter) Fletcher; sister, Bonnie Dodge; daughter, Traci (Pittak) Fletcher; son, Christian Fletcher; grandchildren, Sara and Joe Pittak and Kelsey Fletcher; great-grandson, Denton Pittak; and numerous adult nieces and nephews.   

Preceding him in death were his parents, Clarence and Edna; his sister, Jackie Kitchin; brother, Ed Fletcher; and infant son, Billy. 

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