William Hayden (Bill) Bigler, 72, of Ventura, CA, passed away peacefully with his family nearby on June 25th, 2021 due to complications from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Bill was born in Ventura to William Herman and Bonnie Mae Bigler on March 12, 1949. Growing up, his love for sports and talent kept him busy as a star pitcher in little league baseball. He continued playing for the Ventura High School Cougars, where he also excelled as a quarterback for the football team before graduating in 1967. He went on to graduate with a B.S. in Accounting and International Finance from USC in 1971. After having struggled with addiction, Bill entered a recovery program in 2002, which led him to pursue a new passion of helping others. In 2005 he became a Certified Addiction Counselor, working at Genesis Recovery Program and went on to earn his Master of Social Work (MSW) from CSU Long Beach in 2010. For the last decade, up until days before his death, Bill worked at and was “the heart” of Hillmont House, a behavioral health facility. His co-workers and the patients became his family. In addition to his job, Bill enjoyed rooting for the SC Trojans and LA Dodgers. He loved attending games whenever possible with his son and grandkids.
Bill is survived by his brother, Edwin Bigler, his son, Billy Bigler, daughter, Buffy Bartley , his daughter-in-law, Laila, son-in-law, Chip, his grandchildren; Caleb, Kiana, Nathan & Liliana Bigler, Emily Bartley, Morgan Holding-Mabley and her husband Danny, great-granddaughter, Maple Holding-Mabley as well as his nieces, Vicky Garcia, Nancy Thompson and Debbie Fennern and his Nephew, Cary Spencer.
He is preceded in death by both parents, his sisters; Golda Reed, Kathleen Spencer, Alberta Mahan, Aleen Wyand, his nephew Ron Wyand, niece, Bonnie Weimer and his grandson Kadin Bigler.
Family and friends are invited to a viewing and visiting hours to be held Wednesday July 7, 2021 from 5 - 8pm in the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY & CREMATION, 15 Teloma Drive Ventura. Funeral services officiated by Pastor Doug Colby will be held Thursday July 8, 2021 at 11am in the Mortuary's Chapel followed by a reception. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Teen Challenge, a faith-based recovery home dear to Bill’s heart. This may be done visiting https://givetc.org/. We find comfort in knowing he’s resting in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.