| Graduation Year | Class of 1977 |
| Date of Passing | Oct 12, 2017 |
| About | Bill slipped away from us on October 12, 2017 (58 years of age) at Cottage in the Meadow in Yakima, Washington. Bill was born on a cold November night in 1958 to William and Sylvia (Roath) Rossow. He was greeted by a large family of grandparents, great grandparents and his big sister. Bill went to school for three and a half years in Walla Walla and moved to Yakima’s Nob Hill Elementary School in the 4th grade. He attended Wilson Jr. High School and graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1977. He played junior varsity football and basketball. Bill was loved by many and helped lots of folks. All they had to do was ask. He had a wonderful singing voice and loved singing karaoke. Some of his favorites were Neil Diamond and anything country western. He was a champion of darts, pool and bowling. He loved comedy, especially Red Skelton and Lucille Ball. Bill started work at 15 years old picking apples and grapes with his mother. During that summer he also worked for Harry’s Lawns with his grandfather (Harry Roath) and the next summer for his other grandfather (Herbert Rossow) at Dependable Ladder and Garage Door. He also found employment at Martin-Howat Archery, Bonanza 88 and Danken Jewelers. After years had passed, he moved to Tieton, Washington where he found himself working as a local bartender. In 1993 he started carrying mail on Chinook Pass part-time and later became the full time carrier until December 7, 2015. In 2015 while delivering the mail on the snowy pass, he fell on a set of icy steps and broke his leg. “People don’t usually die from a broken leg, but Bill did.” He is survived by his parents, Bill and Sylvia Rossow; his two sisters, Marta (Randy) Wilson and Sheri Rossow, both of Yakima; five nieces and nephews: Greg (Rebecca) Wilson, Jeff Wilson, Jeremy Wilson, Douglas Parsley and Marie Rossow; his daughter Caitlin Gainer; one grandson, Collin Gainer, and nine great nieces and nephews: Hope and Colby Wilson, Emily and Daniel Wilson, Tildi Wilson, Heaven Wilson, Valiant Taur, Ema Parsley, and Robert Poole III; his aunt E. Kay (Rossow) Harding, her husband D’arcy Harding of Portland, Oregon, and many cousins; Joanne and Roxie and especially Ethan. Many many thanks go out to Rebecca Wilson, Doug Parsley, those who prayed for Bill, and the staff at Cottage in the Meadow. A Memorial Service will be held at Valley Hills Funeral Home Chapel (2600 Business Ln., Yakima) on Saturday October 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Instead of sending flowers, make a donation to your favorite charity in Bill’s name. Some of his favorites were West Valley EMS or the Tieton Fire Department. Arrangements by Valley Hills Funeral Home. |
