William “Bill” Albert Fletcher went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 8, 2021. He was born to the late Albert and Ethel Fletcher in Norwood. Bill graduated from Mountain Grove High School in Missouri in May 1946. After returning from serving in the Korean War, he met and married Kattie Graven. He was able to attend college on the G.I. Bill and graduated with a B.S. in Education from Southwest Missouri State in Springfield. He would later return there to earn his master’s degree. Bill taught high school math in Missouri before moving his wife and two daughters to Fresno, Calif. in 1963. He taught in Fresno Unified School District until retirement in 1987. His excellence in teaching is honored by a brick on the Education Honor Wall at Fresno State. To occupy his time after teaching, Bill drove for car rental companies transporting their cars to different cities. He participated in veterans activities and enjoyed riding in parades. In later years, Bill met with other local veterans on Monday mornings at the Clovis Memorial Building. He was a regular attendee of the annual Veteran’s Day breakfast and was accompanied by his granddaughters, whom he introduced to members of his veteran’s class. He also liked socializing with a group of retirees who walked in the mornings at Sierra Vista Mall. Additionally, Bill kept his mind sharp by completing crossword puzzles and would always have a math problem ready to solve. Bill loved sports and had a great memory of numerous players and their stats. Bill’s favorite team was the St. Louis Cardinals and he proudly celebrated their most recent World Series win in 2011. Bill was a gentle, kindhearted and humble man who was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He was a calm and steady presence in all situations and always pointed out that things could be worse. He was grateful for the many blessings in his life and had plastered the walls of his office with pictures of family and friends. Bill enjoyed learning and was so proud that all of his grandchildren graduated college (the youngest, Laurise, will graduate in 2023). Bill will be dearly missed by his loving family. His wife, Kattie; daughter, Rita Gagliardi and her husband, Vic; son-in-law, John Randall; grandchildren, Kelsey Saxer and husband, Scott; Coren Randall; Tessa Heilbut and husband, Christian; Andrisa Yowell and husband, Justin; and Laurise Randall.
Bill was preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Rhonda Denise Randall; his parents, sister, Doris; and brother, Frank. Under the direction of Farewell Funeral Services, a private family burial was held with Pastor Tim Rolen officiating on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. The family hopes to have a Celebration of Life in the future when COVID-19 restrictions ease and it is safe to do so.
