William (Bill) Higgs

William (Bill) Strother Higgs Sr., our father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend passed away surrounded by his sons on Thursday, April 14, 2022, and was reunited with his wife of almost 73 years, Joan Haight Higgs, who preceded him in death by exactly eight weeks.

Bill was born on September 15, 1928, in Los Angeles, California, to Theresa Louise Ball and Gerald Hillam Higgs. He was the third of four children and especially loved his little sister, Lorna. He is preceded in death by all of his siblings and was proud to hold the title of the longest living Higgs.

After attending West High School in Salt Lake City and graduating in 1945, Bill enlisted in the US Navy. When World War II was over, Bill returned to Utah and worked at the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller for over forty years. He loved his time at the FAA and told lots of stories about the experiences he had and the friends he made there. After his retirement, he spent many years training air traffic controllers. He also volunteered as a service missionary at the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake.

Bill was like his mother—he loved a good, home-cooked meal. He also loved donuts and would always buy his favorite ones to share with others. He loved socializing and was very personable with everyone he met. He made new friends with everyone, like the waitresses who served him at his and Joan’s favorite restaurants. He loved being a home teacher because of the relationships he developed with his neighbors, who became his dear friends. He loved giving and receiving hugs.

Bill and Joan loved their associations with their friends as well. They spent many moments bowling, golfing, vacationing, and enjoying others’ company. They were fabulous neighbors. Even after they moved, they still kept connections with their past neighbors.

Bill was a morning person. “Early to bed, earlier to rise” was his motto, as many of his neighbors found out in the mornings after it snowed or when it was time to do lawncare. He would always put on a pot of coffee for him and Joan each morning. When there was something to be done, he was up and doing. His sons and grandchildren carry on the great legacy of his work ethic.

He loved a good bowl of sherbet and his PBS shows. He recommended masterpiece theater and Longmire to everyone he talked to. Bill always gave of himself and shared all that he had with others. He made sure everyone around him was taken care of. Many of his family members felt that he had more than nine lives. He survived many bouts of pneumonia, a serious car accident, and a quadruple bypass heart surgery. His life had great purpose.

Bill is preceded in death by two brothers and one sister. He is survived by his children, William Jr. (Allison), Stephen (Melissa), and Wade (Sandra) and by his 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Bill’s great nurses and caregivers for the superb care Bill received over the past few months. We are especially grateful for Nikki and Ashley from Active Hospice and for the staff at the Ashford Assisted Living in Draper.

A public viewing will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South in Sandy, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Another public viewing will be held on Thursday, April 21, at Larkin from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A private family service will follow.
Condolences can be sent to the family at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/utah and at LarkinMortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, spend time with your family or donate to your favorite charity in Bill’s name.

To view the COMPLETED services via Zoom click the "Watch Services" button or follow the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/A7qXBUXsyFiCfpNaVwXXRhNxs5f3_McDXHrrAG_CJGldAva12mDcnjvHwnfUAab3.XUC7hkWYJcEVlzvN?startTime=1650560902000