More detail on this person: Lt. Col. William Frye (Ret.) William H. Frye, "Bill" or "PapPap," as
he was known to family and friends, of Los Osos, Calif., passed away peacefully Thursday, May 28,
2015, with his youngest son and wife of fifty years by his side. He was born in a Pennsylvania Army
hospital in March 1933, and volunteered for the draft in 1953. Notably, Bill was a platoon leader in
an Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam from 1966-67, piloting troop-carrying helicopters and
gunships earning two Presidential Unit Citations for Valor. After twenty years of honorable and
decorated service that took Lt. Col. Frye all over the world filling unique, aviation-specific and
engineering assignments, Bill went back to school for a second degree. He earned his teaching
certificate from the University of Idaho and then taught 20th Century U.S. History and U.S. and
State Government for twelve years at Moscow Senior High School in Idaho. The immense influence Bill
had on his pupils' lives was apparent when former students would return home from college and thank
him for the insights and knowledge he taught them. During both careers, Bill was able to satisfy his
passion for traveling and experiencing the world. Along with his wife Joanne, he peeked at Lenin in
Red Square, saw the Taj Mahal by moonlight and celebrated New Year's Eve at Raffles in Singapore,
just to name a few. Throughout it all, his keen memory lent itself to detailed and animated stories
of historical events mixed with his own experiences and observations at each site. He was the kind
of storyteller who stopped you in your tracks; hours of listening and reliving adventures seemed
like mere moments. Bill was also a true lover of nature and all living creatures. A simple walk from
a parking lot to a restaurant could take an hour if there was a dog to pet on the way. He loved
sitting by the water with family to watch the otters play or listen to the sea lions bark. Once a
meal was complete, there were always seagulls to feed with smuggled french-fries or more dogs to
meet as new people walked by. After properly greeting any fluffy creature, Bill talked with the
owners in a way that proved he truly cared. Bill never met a stranger. He was also an avid reader
who enjoyed Cicero and Elmore Leonard and everything in between. Some of the greatest memories
that his children and grandchildren share are the times he read them to sleep in his animated voice,
making Tolkien come alive. He was a walking encyclopedia, but you would never know it unless you
asked an obscure question. In the morning, he would complete crossword puzzles with a singular focus
and fervor. Thousands of hours were spent counting "fifteen-twos and a pair make four" during one of
his favorite pastimes of playing cribbage with family and friends. Bill married Helen Hammersberg in
1955 in Carlisle, Pa., and together they had three children. After seven years of marriage, Helen
lost her brave fight against breast cancer at the age of 27. Several years later, Bill met and
married Joanne Cameron in St. Louis. She has been by his side for fifty years as wife, best friend
and confidant, and loving mother to his children. Bill and Joanne settled in Los Osos in 1990 after
heading south to escape the cold Idaho winters and have loved living there ever since. They quickly
made a home and became part of the community, volunteering for more than 20 years with the Los
Osos public library, helping at the National History Museum, ringing Christmas bells for the
Salvation Army and joining several community groups. Bill particularly loved playing cribbage with
the RAMS. Embodying the true definition of a "fan," Bill planned his Fall around the Cal Poly home
football game schedule and could be seen jumping and cheering with the best of them. Bill Frye is
survived by his loving wife, Joanne; son, William R. "Bill" (wife Sharon) of Camas, Wash.; daughter,
Katharine Hittle of Nyssa, Ore.; son, James of Los Osos, Calif., and five grandchildren: Jenna
Hanson, Kristen Fransman, Erin, Andrew and Alisha Hittle and five great-grandchildren. Bill was kind
and brave and a true gentleman who will be extraordinarily missed by all who knew him. At Bill's
request, there will be no service; a bench will be donated in his name to the Morro Bay walk. In
lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Los Osos Public Library or Central Coast
Hospice. Sign his guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries
Published in San Luis Obispo Tribune on June 3, 2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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