William Joseph "Billy" Dietsch

1931 - 2015

Dietsch, William "Billy" Joseph OCEAN BEACH -- The world has lost a true gentleman, father, and friend with the passing of William "Billy" Joseph Dietsch on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Ocean Beach, California. Billy was born on January 2, 1931 in Evansville, Indiana. He moved to San Diego in the early '50s and settled in Ocean Beach, California, where he started a family having five children. He began a career at Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical in San Diego, working in the aerospace industry that spanned more than 30 years. During which time he represented the employees of Local 506 U.A.W. as President and later as Chairman of the Retiree Committee. Billy married the love of his life, Margaret "Toddy" on March 15, 1975. They had the kind of love that would confirm death simply ended a life not a relationship and no matter how hard death tried it couldn't separate them from love. She was the apple of his eye and they are now together once again dancing a jig. He was an iconic figure and very active in the local community. He was a member of the Ocean Beach Historical Society and supported numerous charities. Billy was preceded in death by his wife Margaret, his brothers Larry and Steve. He lives on in the memories of his brother, the Honorable Judge Terry Dietsch of Evansville, Indiana, his daughters Penny Sue, Terry, Kathy and Debbie, and his son Billy Jr., as well as his grandchildren Elliott, Jack, Kyle, Joshua, Holly, Laura, and Jennifer and his 4 great- grandchildren Paige, Carter, Johnny, and Stevie and his stepsons Steven, Michael, and Richard Benedict. He had more friends than the seas have fish. He was a very giving, loving, and compassionate man who will be missed, but not forgotten. The hardest part of loving someone is saying goodbye so, instead we will say we love you and (as he often said) "Down the line porcupine"! A brief memorial service hosted by the Neptune Society will be held on Friday, July 3rd, at 12:00 p.m. at the Portuguese Memorial on Shelter Island, Point Loma. Instead of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association or Sharp Hospice in his name (or perform an unsolicited act of kindness for some poor soul in his honor).