William Walter Shirley

April 5, 1924 – October 30, 2024

William (Bill) Walter Shirley of La Mesa, California, formerly a long-time resident of Twentynine Palms, California, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the age of 100. He was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he grew up and graduated from Carr Central High School in 1943. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps immediately following graduation. He served in the Pacific at the end of WWII, Okinawa, Guam, and Korea at the Chosin Reservoir. He worked as a heavy-duty equipment operator and diesel mechanic. He served for 20 years and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant in 1964. After the Marines, he continued to work as a diesel mechanic at the Marine Corps base in Twentynine Palms and the Naval Air Facility on Adak, Alaska.

He was actively involved in Oasis of Mara Lodge # 735, having helped build the Masonic Lodge in Twentynine Palms. He was a Master Mason and served as Worshipful Master three different years, 1972, 1973, and 1975. While on Adak, he started another Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of the Shriners International, Scottish Rite, Royal Arch, Knights Templar, and Order of Eastern Star.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert L. Shirley and Hermina May (Miley) Shirley; three brothers and two sisters; wife, Audrey J. (Bledsoe) Shirley (1945-2003); wife, Margaret (Patterson) Aston (2014-2016); and son, Paul Robbins Shirley.

He is survived by his children, William W. (aka “Pepper”) Shirley, Jr., [Debra]; daughter, Wendie S. (Shirley) Watson, [David]; 7 grandchildren, Robbie D. (Shirley) Gale, [Timothy]; Charles E. Shirley, [Relina]; Nicole M. (Shirley) Sonntag, [Michael]; Mandy L. (Shirley) Paul, [Matt]; Katlin Shirley Hudspeth, [Taylor]; Jaclyn Shirley Bertelson, [Bret]; and Sharon A. (Watson) Lubbesmeyer, [Christopher]; 12 great-grandchildren and 1 great, great-grandchild.

He was a kind, gentle, soft-spoken, dedicated, and very hardworking man who loved his family and country very much.

Family and friends are invited to attend services at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 12:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to Shriners Children’s at https://www.shrinerschildrens.org.