KAY, WILLIAM G. LCDR USN, Ret. Bill was born May 21, 1931, in Calvin, OK and passed away February 10, 2010, in Chula Vista, CA, after a brief illness. Bill joined the Navy when he was 17 and even though he never graduated from high school, his natural intelligence and leadership skills allowed him to rise through the ranks as a "Mustang" until he ended his 30 year naval career as a Lieutenant Commander, having commanded two different shore installations and one ship. Among his many commendations and medals was the Bronze Star for combat duty in Vietnam. After he retired from the Navy, he went to work for General Dynamics and Westinghouse Marine Division as a test engineer. He soon tired of desk work and eventually joined the Merchant Marines so he could go back to sea where he served until health problems forced him to retire. Bill was a natural leader who always earned the respect of those who knew him. He was outgoing and generous to a fault and one of the great legacies he has left behind is that he always left a place better than he found it. That is certainly true of the lives of those fortunate enough to have known him. He is survived by his sons, Steven G. Kay (Debbie) of Redlands, CA; Jim A. Kay (Kimm) of El Cajon, CA; a sister, Imogene Scott of Oklahoma City, OK and six grandchildren, Brittany, Jennifer, Samantha, Trevor, Jake and Abby. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kristin and two wives, Virginia, the mother of Steve and Jim and wife Betty Jo. Services will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, February 13, 2010, at the Church of Christ, 470 L St., Chula Vista, CA. He will be buried next to his wife, Virginia, in the Allen, OK Cemetery on March 5, 2010, following a service at the Allen Church of Christ.


Published in The San Diego Union Tribune on Feb. 13, 2010