William Best's Obituary
William Best was born in Pellum, New York on April 21, 1919 and died at home in Oakland, CA on March 27, 2012. After graduating from Lawrenceville in 1938 he attended Union College and worked as a journalist before joining the Army. He served in North Africa and Italy where he received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. It was when he was recuperating from the war that he began his lifelong love of southern Arizona. After four years at Time Inc. he returned to Tucson where, at a dance at the Tanque Verde Ranch he met Marjorie Ellis, his wife of 51 years. Bill taught journalism at the UofA and then went on to spend a few wonderful and costly years as a rancher in AZ and New Mexico. He spent the rest of his life in the editorial communications field living in NY, Rochester, Cincinnati and San Francisco. Bill enjoyed every bit of his long life and everywhere he went he created fun and lasting friendships. He is predeceased by his wife, Marjorie and survived by his children, Susan McKinley, Betty B. Lopez, Christopher Best and his grandchildren, Maleah Best, Alice Laurel Lopez, Willie Best and Heather Best. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Friends of Saguaro National Park Endowment Fund.
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