Tres Pinos native
Tres Pinos native Bill Hooton died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 at his home in Sacramento. He was 75.
Mr. Hooton was a third-generation San Benito County resident and grew up on the family ranch near Paicines. He was involved in the livestock industry as a rancher for most of his life and served for 33 years with the state Department of Agriculture, including eight years as a bureau chief.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Navy on a mine sweeper in the South Pacific. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Hollister where he attended San Benito Junior College and met his future wife, Marilyn Hamm.
He was a past president of the Governors Rural Crime Prevention Task Force, past commander of VFW Post 6747, past Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge No. 6 and was involved in many other service organizations.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marilyn; his daughter, Lynn Strang of Paradise; his son, Dr. Bill Hooton of Red Bluff; his sister, Josephine Stone of Sheridan, Mont.; and four grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday morning at St. Robert’s Catholic Churchin Sacramento, followed by an Elks memorial service and reception at the Sacramento Elks Lodge. Private cremation will follow with interment in the family lot at the IOOF Cemetery in Hollister.
Memorials are preferred to the CHEA Major Projects in care of Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6.
Arrangements are under the direction of Land Park Chapel of Harry A. Nauman & Son in Sacramento.
