Willard (Bill) Harvey Wattenburg, Jr., passed away peacefully on August 2, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was born Feb. 9, 1936 in Chico, California, to parents Willard "Pop" Wattenburg, Sr. and Hazel (Conover). In his early childhood, his family moved often as his father's work as a mechanic took them to Livermore, Oakland, Berkeley, Turlock, back to Chico, and then to the mountains of Plumas County in Northeastern California in 1942, which many generations of Wattenburgs have called home ever since. Bill graduated from high school in 1953, attended college in Chico, earned his bachelor's degree in engineering, then moved on to U.C. Berkeley where he earned his PhDs in Engineering and Physics, subsequently becoming a professor of those subjects at that same institution. He then joined the nuclear weapons design teams at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a relationship that would persist throughout the rest of his life.

He ventured into television and radio in the early 1970's, a passion he enjoyed for the next 40 years, which also led to dabbling in the movie industry. Throughout these adventures, he maintained his connection to the mountains and often had business ventures pertaining to logging and mining. Bill fashioned his career as a scientist who came up with novel solutions to perplexing problems, some of which are chronicled at www.drbill.us.

Bill was important to many people and well-known for his love of children and education as well as his lifelong commitment to helping those in need. In furtherance of this commitment, Bill's family asks that heart-felt gestures of condolence and remembrance be directed in the form of student scholarship support to the Butte Creek Foundation, 14916 Eagle Ridge Dr., Forest Ranch, CA, 95942, phone 530-345-1097. He is survived by his wife, son and four daughters, many adoring grandchildren, along with his sister, brother, and many nieces and nephews. Bill's family will remember him during a private gathering.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Aug. 11 to Aug. 12, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Willard Wattenburg

Sponsored by Neptune Society - Chico.

26 Entries

November 2, 2019

Great Man. Listened to him on KGO for years.
Bill predicated the wild fires we are having now.
Proper forest management was one of his pet peeves.

James Oeming

July 24, 2019

Doctor Bill is on my short list of the most influential people in my life. I listened to him for decades. He set the standard for dispassionate scientific thinking, fueled with passion. He would convert his passion into a sober analysis. He had an intense hands-on practicality coupled with lofty theoretical knowledge. He was conspicuously able to change his mind in the face of new information. Most people don't have the backbone to admit they don't know something. Doctor Bill had no such limitation. He would absorb new information, and integrate it into his views.

Goldie Michaels

July 6, 2019

It has been nearly one year. Your kindness will always be remembered by me. RIP.

December 15, 2018

My husband and I so very much enjoyed listening to Bill at night on the radio and I've just learned of his passing. Many condolences to his family and friends - he was truly a teacher who didn't suffer fools. RIP

Prentiss W. (Skip) Jackson

December 1, 2018

My condolences to the family of Bill. He was my research adviser for my MS at UC Berkeley in 1965, and my first boss as an engineer for his company, BSL, for 5 years. The opportunities he gave to me will never be forgotten.

Mike Rodwell

November 27, 2018

A true genius god will need bill on his team

Shof Beavers

November 10, 2018

I just found out about this and am so sad. What a great, wonderful man who will be missed by many. My thoughts go out to his family

Nick Nicklas

September 30, 2018

A brilliant man that will be missed. I learned much from him. May his eternal soul continue to educate all of us.

Charles Coker

September 10, 2018

I am saddened to hear the world has lost a brilliant person and contributor to society that I have admired since meeting him 53 years ago and later listening to his radio show and reading about his accomplishments. Dr Wattenburg was my research and thesis advisor at UC Berkeley while I was working on my Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from 1965-1966. As a student in this academic setting there are many things I learned from him. One of practical value is that he impressed upon me the importance of documenting your work which I have done throughout my professional career, always thinking about his advice. He let me work independently on projects I was very fortunate to have in both digital circuit design and computer programming for my Masters Thesis and in writing a computer program he wanted to automate the process of determining if students met their degree requirements for graduation. The later project was a paid job for the College of Letters and Science for which I worked 20 hours a week during my graduate year to pay for tuition and living expenses. I remember him as an innovative person then in applying the computer to real world needs. Throughout his career he has used his creative mind to solve problems. Our paths crossed, unknown to him, when he was critical of the security of Bart's magnetic stripped paper ticket designed by IBM because it could be illegally duplicated. I was an engineer at IBM at the time and was given the assignment of determining and demonstrating all the ways the ticket could be fraudulently copied and how security could be improved. The powers that be decided the risk of fraudulent tickets was acceptable.

I want his family to know how much I appreciate my short association with him and that I regret not personally thanking him for the opportunities and advice he gave me.

With my sincerest condolences,

Charles Coker, Morgan Hill, CA

Rama Kumar

August 29, 2018

I appreciate that Dr. Wattenburg was willing to discuss the pros and cons of nuclear disarmament with me on his shows.
I would very much love that ALL nuclear weapons be eliminated forever starting right now!
Dr. Bill didn't share this feeling with me.(or perhaps in some way he also did)
But I appreciate that he was willing to take many of my calls to his radio programs to argue and discuss this most important issue with me.
Thank you, Dr. Bill, for at least having the guts to take my calls on the air-which many talk show hosts will not do!-and giving me a chance to discuss this most important issue with you and many people listening to the radio.
I appreciate a sincere and straightforward person-and Dr. Bill was that.
Much love and peace Dr. Wattenburg,
Rama Kumar from Fairfax, CA

MARLENE KILROY

August 29, 2018

We listened to Dr. Bill for 25 plus years,and found him to be most interesting person we ever known. We will miss him dearly.

LON LIGHT

August 14, 2018

Fiesty personality for sure..Brillant mind for sure..Respectful to young people Always....Did he lose patience with nuckle heads ..Yes..
Did U learn something Intersting..How could U not!

RIP.

LON E. LIGHT
LAFAYETTE,CA.

Karen Hansen

August 13, 2018

My condolences to the family. Bill was a brilliant man with a fiesty personality I thoroughly enjoyed. Rest in peace Bill.

Bill Quinn

August 13, 2018

Really enjoyed Bill he had a million story's and kept you laughing with his ideas and story's. The world will miss his genius

Martin Rooney

August 13, 2018

My wife Eillen and I are in Donegal ,Ireland on vacation and we just learned of Dr. Bill's passng. May he Rest in Peace. Listening to KGO for many years he was head and shoulders above the other presenters. Dr. Bill's intelligence and common sense was refreshing to listen to. When young people came on the line he was so respectful and encouraging. When I was young I used to admire smart people now I admire kind people. None kinder than Dr. Bill Wattenburg. Condolences to his wife and family.
God Bless,
Eileen and Martin Rooney

Doug and Sherry Gillis

August 13, 2018

A wonderful man with a beautiful voice. He is going to be missed here in the North State. You don't meet many people like Bill Wattenburg, who was definitely one of the most impressive people we've ever met. Our condolences to the wife and family.

August 13, 2018

My heartfelt sympathy to the entire Wattenburg family
for your loss.May you find comfort in family and friends
and in the precious memories you share.I loved listening
to Mr. Wattenburg on his radio show.He was a brilliant
man and full of knowledge and good advice.He will be
missed. May he rest in peace.

Kathryn Campanella San Jose, Ca

Gary W

August 13, 2018

A GREAT mind has been lost. To bad they don't make them like Mr Wattenburg anymore!

August 12, 2018

I enjoyed Dr Bills sat night radio show for several years until it went off the air. It was by far the best talk show I ever listen to. His knowledge and advice was second to nobody. My condolences to the Wattenburg family.
Fred Anderson PE San Jose Calif

Bonnie Fells

August 12, 2018

I loved listening to Dr. Bill Wattenburg. He was brilliant and I learned so much from him, things that I still apply in my life. He will be truly missed by all. I I give my sincere condolences to his family. Thank you for sharing Dr. Bill with all of us.

kathy Rainsford

August 12, 2018

Loved listening to Bill's brilliance on radio. He was a mastermind of the sciences and teaching. My sincere condolences to the entire Wattenburg Family

August 12, 2018

What a sad thing to wake up and read. I absolutely LOVED listening to Bill on the radio. I always think of him when putting gas in my car, as he said NEVER premium because you would just be wasting your money! RIP Smart Man....and peace be with your Family.

Janet Owen

August 11, 2018

Smartest man on the radio. To his lovely wife and daughters, I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm not an acquaintance, I'm a fan

Neptune Society of Northern California

August 3, 2018

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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