William Richard Sala

July 14, 2019
William Richard Sala

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Bill passed peacefully in his home on July 14th, 2019. He was the second child of Joseph and Josephine Sala. The son of Italian immigrants, he was born in Manhattan, NY. He grew up living very close to many of his aunts, uncles, cousins and other people who could have easily been family. He was close to his sister, Vivian, for the entirety of their lives. Growing up in NYC he learned to flip baseball cards, sneak into Ebbets Field to watch the Dodgers and learned tricks of an auto mechanic at his father’s garage in the Bronx next to Arthur Avenue. He was inquisitive, curious, practical, and fixer of just about any broken item. Like many of his generation he always wanted to identify as an American rather than an Italian-American. He was proud of his heritage and spent his lifetime sharing the experiences of his youth to his children, family and friends. Bill had a great sense of humor (if not goofy) that affected everyone around him. Everyone who met him enjoyed his company and was loved dearly by all.

In 1957, his family moved west to La Mirada in southern California where they eventually settled. After his graduation from Cal Poly Pomona as an Electronic Engineer, he found a job with Ling Electronics working on defense related projects. He made many friends with his colleagues some of whom remain to this day. Around this time, he met his first wife, Jocelyne Goulet, with whom they raised three children, Michelle, Steven and Suzanne. After their early years in Fullerton, CA they moved to Anaheim Hills. They divorced in 1985.

Bill’s working years took him into the field computer data storage. Being the outgoing, friendly, social person that he was, he was very successful in the field of sales where he spent his career working for Texas Instruments, Remex, Western Digital, Archive, SanDisk, Asahi Glass and a few start-up companies. Some of his assignments included responsibilities in Asia where he traveled frequently during his working years. It was during his time with Western Digital that he met his wife, Kimberly McCarthy. Bill and Kim were married on November 6, 1988 in Newport Beach, CA. They later moved to Lake Oswego, OR where their daughter, Lily, was born. In 2005 they moved to Wilmington, NC.

Although living far from his family in the West, he remained close to all his children and grandchildren. In the summer of 2018, Bill was diagnosed with cancer for the third time, but this time it was terminal. Never one to let on about his pain or suffering, he fought during the past year always with hope his life would be longer. Fortunately, his health allowed him to walk his daughter Lily down the aisle this past November for her wedding ceremony. What a blessing that was. As a Christian, Bill had the confidence of knowing that he would spend eternity in the presence of Christ Jesus, a faith he shared with his family.

Bill is survived by his wife Kim, children Michelle, Steven (Juli), Suzanne (John), and Lily (Hunter), grandchildren Caroline (Matthew) and William. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Josephine and sister Vivian.

A memorial service will be held on Friday July 26, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. at Forest Lawn cemetery in Covina Hills, CA. He will be interred next to his parents. There will be a reception at Forest Lawn immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Please share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the “Post a Condolence” tab below.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation, 1535 S.41st Street Wilmington, NC 28403. 910.791.9099.


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  • July 16, 2019
    Susan & Louis Childrey lit a candle:
    Lit since July 16, 2019 at 7:15:38 PM

  • July 17, 2019
    Lily Chatham says:
    Carl and I are so saddened with Bill's passing. We are so happy to have got to know Bill and Kim - when their precious daughter, Lily, joined our family. Bill was such a nice fellow and so interesting to talk with. We enjoyed their visits to the farm for the Engagement party - and for last Christmas. We celebrated with our new extended family - Bill and Kim -- and of course, Lily and our grandson Hunter. We celebrated the wedding in November with them. We are just sorry we didn't have more time to share with Bill. His pain is gone, and he has earned his Angel Wings. God Speed my friend Bill!!!

  • July 17, 2019
    Karen and Bruce says:
    We are so sorry to hear of Bill's death. Kim, you both were wonderful neighbors, both in Bay Colony and Muirfield. Bill is now at peace, free from pain. We are keeping you all in our prayers.

  • July 19, 2019
    Heidi says:
    I miss you so much already, Bill. You were a one-of-kind man and this world will not be the same without you in it.

  • July 20, 2019
    Raquel Wagner says:
    May you rest in peace Mr. Sala