Bill then Maurice -- Part II

In 1932 when Bill was 15, his father was killed. Following his father's death, Bill and his mother stayed at the orchard while Bill -- who had to quit school -- farmed it. After two years they returned to Holly. Bill worked at various jobs while farming. Logging with his brother-in-law Joe was one of his favorites. There were no chainsaws in those days, it was done with cross cut saws and axes. Until his death, one of his favorite possessions was the special falling ax that he retained from those times. It was kept sharp enough to shave with and the handle well-oiled throughout the years.
Bill's fascination with all things mechanical began at an early age and he saved up enough money to go to school in Los Angeles to become an aircraft mechanic. Upon his graduation he returned to his mother in Holly for a short time, then met Leah. When he got a job at Boeing he and his mother moved to Seattle; Leah followed, living with her sister. Bill continued his education, attending Edison Tech at night to become a lathe operator and machinist.

Bill and Leah were married in 1940.