After ninety years of living life to the fullest Bill died at his home in Orinda, California on August 8, 2014 with Pat by his side. He was born in 1924 in Salt Lake City, Utah to William Tenney Cannon Junior and Geneve Anderson Cannon.
He attended Forest School, Irving Junior High, South High and the University of Utah. At each school he attracted many friends. Bill loved laughter and made everyone feel important.
His charming and witty sense of humor could be both engaging and disarming. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy and much to his delight he got into the Naval Aviator Flight School. He got his wings and qualified to fly every kind of air craft. He was on his overseas leave in San Francisco when the war ended. After the war, he enrolled at the University of Utah. He joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity and enjoyed the brotherhood there. At the U he met and married his college sweetheart, Pat Wilkins in the Salt Lake Temple. They and their son Mark, adventured through life.
Upon graduating in engineering Bill embarked on a long career in the trucking business that took him from the west coast to the east coast and back again. He joined W.S. Hatch Co. in Woodscross, Utah as general manager, then went to P.I.E. (Pacific Intermountain Express Bulk Commodities Division) in Oakland, California as Vice President, after that they moved to the east coast with Matlack (Bulk Trucking) in Landsdown, Pa. where he served as Vice President of Operations. His final move was to Walnut Creek in California, a place he and Pat so enjoyed, where he became President of Pacific Intermountain Express Commodities Division.
After retiring in 1983 he was on to new adventures as he started to compete at local and national levels in bicycle racing where he won many trophies being the fastest in his age group. Along with family and friends he hiked the Sierras and went diving for Abalone off the Mendocino coast. He was an avid e-mailer and kept friends abreast as to the latest jokes, happenings, comments on the world situation and medical news. He kept up a correspondence with his old Navy buddies for as long as he was able. He would seek them out no matter where they lived and there would often be a tearful reunion as they hugged each other and reminisced about their days together during the war. He planned the last reunion of all his surviving Navy friends and their wives in San Francisco where they had lunch on the air craft carrier Hornet, visited St. Mary's College where they had all gone to school, then had dinner together on the top of the Marine Memorial Building.
Bill was not reluctant to talk about his views on life and one always knew what he believed. A staunch Republican he relished debating anyone of a different persuasion. He had no pretenses or affectations. He lived his life with his integrity intact. He had a great smile, a contagious laugh, could laugh at himself, and was always interested in the world. He lifted everyone's spirit wherever he was. He and Pat loved to travel. They covered most of the U.S. and much of Europe and Asia. In later life he became interested in genealogy. He researched online, talked with relatives and would often seek out graves of relatives in order to concretize his research. He always wanted the details to be accurate.
After he became ill, Pat cared for him with kindness, humor and loving concern. He is survived by his wife Pat, their son Mark, daughter-in-law, Melinda and four grandchildren: Avery Dean, Nerissa Dawn, Hunter Tenney, and Serena A. Cannon and four special step grandchildren: Danielle Bundy, Thomas A, Jeff S. (Christine), and Joseph H. Crocket and many nieces and nephews and extended family. Preceding him in death were his parents and his sisters Helen C. Stitt and Sally Winters Hacking and a brother, Russell A. Cannon.
Bill was one of a kind, the last known survivor of his Navy, Sigma Chi, Abalone Diving and biking friends. He will be missed by all who knew him especially his wife Pat. In lieu of flowers give someone you love a give hug and tell them how much you love them or give to a charity of your choice.
We will miss you Bill. You are now a real Flying Angel.
A graveside service will be held on Friday August 29th at 3:00 pm in the Salt Lake City Cemetery (enter the gate located at 920 East and 11th Avenue, SLC).
