William Leonard "Bill" Greek (1923-1971)

Uncle Bill was born 8 Feb 1923 in Riverside, CA. At the time, the family was living on the ranch in the orange groves along Sunny Mountain Road in Highgrove.(Near the end of the present Center Street.)

When World War II started, Bill, like his older brothers joined the US Navy. He served in the Pacific as a Motor Machinist Mate on various types of Landing Crafts. Military records indicate he did a tour as a Naval Reservist on the Destroyer the USS John A. Bole in 1947.

After the war, Bill returned to Southern California. Like the rest of the family, I loved Bill and I loved being with him. But the sad fact is that somewhere along his path Bill became an achoholic. His life must have been very hard. He made his living, when I know him best during my high school years, unloading trucks in the Riverside area. He was wiry and amazingly strong. I have fond memories of Bill blasting out happy tunes on his ever present harmonica. I had a paper route in Fontana that involved a 10 mile bike ride every day delivering the Los Angeles Evening Herald Express. It was always a treat for me when Bill would put me and my paper sack in the rumble seat of his coupe and I could do my route throwing the papers from the back of his car.

Bill developed liver disease and died in Riverside on 26 Dec 1971 at the age of 48. Sister Colette was a comfort to him during his illness and was with him when he died. He is buried in the Evergreen Memorial Park, Riverside, CA, as are his parents, grandparents, and Aunt Margaret (Mag) Johnson.