William Albert McVay, Jr

William Albert McVay, Jr May 23, 1925 ~ April 30, 2023 William "Bill" McVay, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away April 30, 2023, at the age of 97. Bill was born in Omaha, Nebraska to William and Katherine McVay in 1925. His family didn't have much, but they were rich in love and his mother was an excellent baker, which his kids believe started him on his lifelong desire for anything sweet!

Bill moved with his family to Vancouver in 1942 and went to work in the Oregon shipyards for a year until he enlisted in the Navy in January of 1944. He shipped out to New Guinea and the Philippines 6 months later and participated in the first atom bomb test at the Bikini Atoll. He was discharged in December of 1946 and went to work for REA Express where he worked until 1976. He then worked at Ft. Vancouver Plywood from 1976 until he retired in 1986.

Bill met Mary Helen Arbour in April of 1947 and was so smitten that they were married in October of that year. They spent 65 years together until Mary passed away in 2013. Together they raised 2 sons and a daughter and enjoyed traveling any time they could. They would spend wintertime in Palm Springs, gambling trips to Reno and just about anywhere else a car could take them.

He will be deeply missed by his children, Jeffrey (Pam), Shari Ludlow (Mike) and David (Bobbie). He was grandfather to Katherine and Sean Kissick and Alex (Jeff), Jessica and Jake and Stacie Ludlow (Shari) and Kalah and Tyler (Dave). He also had 4 wonderful great grandchildren. Also left behind are John and Pearl Arbour, dear in-laws that spent many great times together with Bill and Mary going to Reno and playing cards on Saturday nights.

The family would like to thank Kaiser Hospice and the many fantastic people that helped the family in the last months of Bill's life. Special thanks to Kendall Kissir and Josh Whitmire, who provided endless hours of professional, tender care.

All are welcome to join Bill's family in remembering him at Evergreen Memorial Gardens on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 12:30pm.