He grew up in Boulder when it was still a small university town. He began working at the age of 14, setting pins at the Boulder Bowling Lanes on 13th Street, just west of the Courthouse. His life-long strong work ethic continued at the original Gondolier Restaurant, where he could toss both pizza dough and outrageous remarks about as fast as anyone had ever seen or heard. He loved being part of that successful business and was an amazing chef. He continued in the culinary field to become a Deli Manager for various King Soopers stores in the area. He retired after 30 years with King Soopers due to failing health. He ended his career there as he had worked all of his life: working hard and fast and with enduring honesty.
Bill served his country by joining the Colorado National Guard in 1965, training with distinction and winning awards during his six years with the men of Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 157th Artillery.
As a young man, he drove a cool black MGB, danced at Tulagi’s, played pinball machines at The Sink and lived at Cowpoke Ranch up Four Mile Canyon. He played touch football with vigor, poker with discipline and loved the Bronco’s through good years and bad. He and his wife Linda traveled to Cancun, Mexico when it was still a serene, natural paradise. That experience led to his long admiration of Mexico; he loved vacationing there as often as he could. Bill had an amazing and wide-ranging memory, stunning his listeners for years with his ability to remember minute details. He was a talented artist and excelled in many mediums. He carved elaborate and intricate pumpkins for the delight of his children. He loved to fly kites, shoot off fireworks of questionable legality, and relished cross-country road trips with his family. He had a sardonic and dry sense of humor about life and appreciated beautiful women to the end. He loved his children and especially loved his darling grandchildren.
His parents and his older brother, Duncan Ross Norris, preceded Bill in death. He is survived by his daughter, Sara Margaret Oclassen, his grandchildren, Andrew and Abigail Oclassen and their father, Doug Oclassen, all of Boulder, and his son, Wyatt Hamilton Norris of Portland Oregon. He is also survived by his former wife, Linda Ostrander Norris. Also surviving him are his former in-laws, Kay Stoakes and Virginia Ostrander of Boulder and his niece, Lisa Stoakes Thomas of North Carolina and nephews, Tim & Julius Stoakes of Colorado. His aunt and uncle, Phyllis & Phillip Ingle of New York and his namesake uncle, William Roy Campbell of Florida, together with their families, also survive him.
Cremation has occurred and a memorial service will be scheduled in the coming days. Crist Mortuary is handling the details.