William "Bill" Wilber

1936 - 2023

William "Bill" Wilber
September 7, 1936 - November 13, 2023
Hard work and generosity were the hallmarks of Bill's life. A friend to all, a mentor to many, Bill felt that he was the luckiest of men. The fact is, we who knew and loved him are the lucky ones.

Bill was born on September 7, 1936, in San Francisco, CA to parents William and Mary Wilber. The family moved to Redwood City where Bill started school and then to Fort Bragg, CA where Bill was raised. In the 5th grade Bill met Bob who became and would remain his lifelong best friend.

After graduating from Fort Bragg High School, he moved to Eureka, CA where he and Bob attended Humbolt State University. It was there that Bill met and married Barbara with whom he had three children, Debra, Jeff and Greg.

Graduating with a degree in accounting and a teaching credential, Bill was hired at Eureka High School where he taught math and bookkeeping and coached football and gymnastics. To make ends meet, he sold both real estate and insurance.

After six years at the high school, Bill was recruited to became part of the founding faculty at the newly formed College of the Redwoods, and soon moved into the business side of college administration. During his tenure at College of the Redwoods he earned a Masters Degree at San Jose State University, became a C.P.A., and did his doctoral work at U.S.C., joking that he received an A.B.D., "all but dissertation."

In 1977, Bill moved to Santa Rosa, accepting a position as V.P of Business at Santa Rosa Junior College. While there he met Mauri, whom he married and with whom he had his daughter Alexis.

Bill continued in administration at SRJC until 1987 when he retired and went back to his real love, teaching. He taught full and then part time at SRJC for another ten years.

Bill maintained a tax practice throughout his career in education. In his eventual retirement from teaching Bill's practice grew to include his oldest daughter as his partner and then eventually, and much to his delight, as his boss.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents William and Mary Wilber and his sister Jean Ghiossi as well as several half-siblings. He is survived by his wife, Mauri, his children Debra (Paul), Jeff (Donna), Greg (Ming Wei), and Alexis as well as his grandchildren, Jenna, Janelle (Jake), Barret, Emily, Julian, Hannah, and Nora, his great-grandchildren, Jack, Nicholas, Katelyn and Charlott and his much-loved nieces and nephews.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held after tax season on April 28th from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., at the Luther Burbank Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation at https://give.santarosa.edu/donate or by mail at 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Include in the comment or memo line, "In memory of Bill Wilber."