WEILAND, WILLIAM R.

ENCINITAS, Calif. – William “Bill” Ransom Weiland was born on July 9, 1921 in Orange, N.J. He was the son of Laura Valentine and George Weiland.

He died on June 16, 2009, after a long illness in Encinitas, Calif.

Bill graduated from Cheshire Academy in Connecticut and entered Duke University in Durham, N.C.

Upon the declaration of World War II, in 1941, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the Marine Raider Battalion. His tour of duty took him to the South Pacific, where he fought in Guadalcanal, Guam, Bougainville and Emirau. He earned two Purple Hearts during the service to his country as well as a field commission during the battle of Guam.

Upon his return home, he married Barbara Sherman Vaiden, a friend he had known since childhood. They lived in Missoula for 33 years.

Bill graduated from Colorado A&M with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degrees and went on to Yale, where he received his master’s degree in forestry. Bill began his career working for Broderick Wood Product Co. in Granby, Colo. He went on to work for U.S. Plywood in Anderson, Calif., and then to Champion International in Bonner. He retired as general manager of the Rocky Mountain Division of Champion in 1972.

Bill loved the outdoors. He was an avid mountain climber and scaled countless peaks in Canada, Switzerland, Patagonia, Tibet and the United States, including the nation’s highest mountain, Mount McKinley. When not climbing, he spent his time skiing and hiking with his family and friends, often accompanied by his dogs.

He is survived by his wife Bobby; and four children, John Weiland of Palmer, Alaska, Patricia Zay of Memphis, Tenn., Forrest Weiland of Vista, Calif., and Bill Weiland Jr. of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. He has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Remembrances may be sent to Silverado Hospice 3750 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111.