William Eugene Gatlin

William Eugene Gatlin, age 58, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at his home.

A memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 22, 2008 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

Remembrances may be made to Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter, 5901 SW Macadam Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 97201 or Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

He was born November 19, 1949 in Orange, California. He was a graduate of Pomona High School in Pomona, California and earned a refrigeration technician certificate from California State University, San Bernardino. He worked for Pomona Air in Pomona, and Surface & Company in San Bernardino, California. On June 20, 1970 in Ontario, California he married Wendy Kappelin and they later divorced. In 1977 he medically retired and moved from Upland, California to Grants Pass.

While his kids were growing up, he volunteered in Little League.

He was a member of the Rogue Valley Classic Mustang Club and previously owned numerous collectible automobiles. He had a passion for music and loved to act and sing, especially at Rogue Community College and the Merlin Mining Company.

Survivors include a son, Michael Gatlin of Redding, California and a daughter, Lisa Stevens of Grants Pass; his mother, Barbara Dickerson of Grants Pass; two sisters, Pattie Bishop of Grants Pass and Debbie Motts of Ontario, California; and four grandchildren.