Elmer W. "Bill" Higbee

10/5/1929 - 4/13/2015

Elmer "Bill" Higbee suffered a heart attack in his sleep on April 13, 2015.

Bill was born October 5, 1929 to Charles and Katherine Higbee. He lived his entire life in Santa Barbara and graduated from Santa Barbara High School, where he played football for the Dons. He married his high school sweetheart, Joara Graham, and they had three children: Dona Mae, Linda Anne and Jeffrey William. Bill and Joara were married until Joara passed away in 1987 after a long illness.

Bill was a member of the Goleta chapter of the AMVETS. He also joined the local Elks #613 in 1976 and for many years helped cook dinner every Friday night at the lodge.

In 1978 Bill began working for the Vaqueros Camp of the Rancheros Visitadores, helping to set up the camp before the riders arrived. After many years he switched to the Mozos Camp and began working Security. Poor health forced him to quit in 2012. Working for the Rancheros was one of the highlights of his life. He loved the outdoors and nature, the camaraderie of the other men and the entire Visitadores experience.

For more than thirty years, Bill was a member of the local senior softball team and traveled with them for tournaments in Kansas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and many locations in California. He loved the game, his many friends on the team and the fun of competition. As his health declined, he was unable to continue participating but always held a warm spot in his heart for all the team members.

Over the years, Bill held various jobs. He worked for Bekins moving company, then Arden Dairy, and finally joined UCSB's Parking Services in September of 1979 and retired in 1992. It was in late 1987, while working at UCSB, that Bill met Donna Good. They were married two years later and remained devoted to each other until Bill's passing.

Bill is survived by his wife, Donna; his daughter Dona Kazmar and her husband, Ted, and their son, Charles; his daughter Linda Higbee and her son, Brian Holguin; his son Jeffrey Higbee and his children, Whitney Higbee, Taylor Higbee, Hilarie Higbee, and Harrison Higbee and his wife Cassie, and their daughter, Hallie. Bill is also survived by Donna's mother, Freda Good.

Bill loved people, deeply cherished his friends, and was kind and helpful to everyone he met. He was known at UCSB as "that man at the kiosk with the friendly wave and big smile." He was one in a million and his family and friends will miss him so much. May he receive as much love on the other side as he gave to everyone here.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday May 9, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church (State Street at Constance). The family wishes to warmly invite everyone who was touched by Bill's kindness and smile to join with the family in remembering this wonderful man. There will be a reception at the church after the service.