Col(R) William F. Carroll
Col(R) William F. Carroll
Bill Carroll, aviator, pharmacist, hospital administrator, proud member of the Olympic Club since 1945, 3rd generation San Franciscan, born at St. Mary’s Hospital with twin brother, Bob, in June 1936 has died at home of Parkinson’s Disease on 9 April 2018.
Bill attended St. Emydius grammar school until moving to Healdsburg at age 12 with family when his father bought a drugstore there. Bill graduated from Healdsburg High School and went on to college at the University of Wyoming to study pharmacy. While there he was active in ROTC and continued in the reserves after graduation. He then practiced pharmacy for 4 years before going on active duty in the Army in the Medical Service Corps and becoming an aviator.
Bill’s love for flying earned him the coveted award of the U.S. Army Master Aviator badge. He flew two 13 month combat tours in Vietnam, resulting in bravery awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross,
Bronze Star Medal, 11 air medals (3 with V for valor) and the Combat Medical Badge. He was proud of his status as an instrument flight examiner and being Commander of the 421st Medical Co. (Air Ambulance) in Germany. Bill attended the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College and the Health Care Administration course for his Master’s Degree. He served as executive officer at Madigan General Hospital for the culmination of his active duty career in the US Army. Bill retired with 28 years of active service after attaining the rank of full colonel and many meritorious awards for outstanding service. He was a true hero!
He is survived by his wife, Diane, of 52 years and many nephews and nieces, good friends and his comrades-inarms. He’s predeceased by his parents, William and Elinor Carroll, his twin brother, Robert Carroll and his sister, Joan (Carroll) Passalacqua.
A memorial service and Mass at St. John’s Catholic Church in Healdsburg is being planned for 11AM on Friday, 11 May 2018. Donations in his memory may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.