Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Add a Memory
Make a Donation
William C. McKinley
1935 - 2025
UPCOMING SERVICE
Celebration Of Life
Nov. 1, 2025
2:00 p.m.
Calvary Community Church
William McKinley Obituary
Bill was born on October 6,1935 in Los Angeles, Calif., to Loren and Mary McKinley. He attended UCLA where he received his undergraduate degree in 1961 and his law degree in 1964. He went on to practice law (civil litigation) for 40 years in Sacramento, Calif.
He gave his life to Jesus Christ at age 53 and hoped to encourage others to have a personal relationship with God. He found his first church family at First Covenant Church in Sacramento. In 2000, he moved to Port Townsend, where he joined Calvary Community Church and cherished Christian fellowship with his church community, friends and family.
As a young man, Bill was a Los Angeles County lifeguard and loved surfing in Southern California and Hawaii in the 1950s and 1960s. He also was a competitive wrestler at UCLA and then on the All-Army Wrestling Team, qualifying for the Olympic Trials in 1960.
His other interests included skiing, traveling, racing vintage sports cars and flying planes (achieving 3,000 hours flight time). Throughout his life, he was an avid reader and kept abreast of world events and sports, especially his beloved UCLA Bruins and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also served in the U.S Army from 1958-60, going through basic training at Fort Ord then stationed at Fort Lewis, West Point, and in Seoul, South Korea. He was a member of the Christian Legal Society, the International Society for Skiing Safety, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Bill is missed and remembered with love by his wife of 45 years, Lori; son, Michael C. McKinley; daughter, Katie Fowlie (Barry); grandsons, Ryan C. McKinley and Trevor McKinley; and brother, David Jackson (Joan). A celebration of life for Bill will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Calvary Community Church in Port Townsend. Memorials in Bill's name may be made to Samaritan's Purse or Hospice Foundation for Jefferson Healthcare.
Memorial Events
for William McKinley
Nov
1
Celebration of Life
2:00 p.m.
Calvary Community Church
Port Townsend, WA
Memories and Condolences
for William McKinley
Sponsored by Sacbee.com.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in William McKinley's name
Please consider a donation as requested by the family.
How to support William's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor William McKinley's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more