Bill was born on December 20, 1925, in Hyde Park, Utah, to Alma Cook and Nellie Vilate Perkes. He was the youngest of four children; his elder brother Keith, who died at age 12, and two sisters, Eunice and Ellen. He grew up in Hyde Park and attended Cache Valley schools. He joined the Army Air Corps part-way through his senior year during the Second World War, serving for four years. He subsequently received a GED graduation and a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Utah State University.

On September 4, 1946, he married Marilyn Joyce Denning of Logan in the Salt Lake City temple. After a few months they made their home in Ogden where Bill worked at Hill Field Air Force Base. In 1954 they moved their family to Idaho Falls, where Bill was employed at the Atomic Energy Center for 20 years. They subsequently spent two years in Green Bay Wisconsin, followed by 13 years in Naperville, Illinois, working for the Department of Energy, before returning to Idaho Falls in 1988.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and boating with his family. In recent years he spent many hours as a dedicated league golfer at the Idaho Falls public courses and in competition playing pool at the Senior Citizens center.

Bill is survived by his children, Marilyn (Kevin) Simister of Lindon, Utah; Marsha (Mark) Price of Idaho Falls, Linda Cook of Belleview, Washington; Brian W. (Dana) Cook of Eagle, Idaho; Sandra Cook of Chicago, Illinois, 16 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, siblings, and granddaughter, Marci Price.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2009, at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St., Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the services at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetary.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com.