William (Bill) Goble, age 79, a 70 year Prosser resident, entered into rest on January 14, 2024 at Chaplaincy Hospice in Kennewick. He was born on November 6, 1944 in Lakin, Kansas to Loyd Burton and Elba L. (Compton) Goble. The family moved from Colorado to Prosser in 1953.
He competed in marble tournaments sponsored nationwide by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1958, he won the district and state championships and went on to win the ninth place in the national tournament. While in high school, Bill excelled in basketball, football and baseball. After graduating from Prosser High School, he attended Eastern Washington University and received a BA in Education. He played football for three years and was a member of the Eastern Athletic Hall of Fame Baseball Team in 1966. He went on to pitch for the New York Yankees in the AAA program.
Bill was an active member of Friendship Baptist Church and was saved and baptized in 2012. He played recreational baseball for many years and also loved to golf in Sunnyside and at Canyon Lakes.
Bill married Celia Maria Martinez on March 24, 1994 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was a farmer most of his life, growing apples, grapes, cherries and was also a substitute teacher and coach for the Prosser School District. He was Mel Bowden’s assistant basketball coach for many years and was also a baseball coach.
Bill is survived by his wife, Celia (Sally) Goble and their daughter Sophia Goble of Prosser, and his daughters Jackie Hollander (Paul) of Washington and Ginger (Laurie) Goble-Van Diest of Lynnwood, Washington, and their mother Carolyn of Bellingham; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild on the way. His parents; his brother, Terrell Goble; and his sister, Letha Ouderkirk, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 26, 2024 at Friendship Baptist Church in Prosser. Burial will follow at the Prosser Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Friendship Baptist Church. You may leave a message for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com