William
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Bill
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Joseph Bianchi passed away in Hollister on Sunday, Oct. 10.
William “Bill” Joseph Bianchi passed away in Hollister on Sunday, Oct. 10. He was 79 years old.
Mr. Bianchi was a native of Stockton and graduated from Stockton High School. After graduation, he enlisted along with many of his close friends into the U.S. Airforce and served in World War II. Upon his discharge from the service, Bill enrolled at Humphrey’s Business College in Stockton where he obtained his B.A Degree. He then joined C.G. Bianchi & Co. which had large agricultural endeavors in the San Joaquin Valley. Twenty years later he formed the sole proprietorship of Bianchi Enterprises which raised almonds in Manteca, Escalon, and the Ripon area –later expanding his land area to 2500 acres to raise and produce wine grapes. Also during that same period of 1946 to 1964, he operated the Broder Family summer Hereford cattle range at Meyers, So. Lake Tahoe and the winter range at Folsom, Calif. Bill loved to fly and he was known as the Flying Farmer. He loved to fly to Baja, Calif., Alaska, Mexico and Canada for special trips with his wife as well as with his friends to go sport fishing. In addition to being a member of the Modesto T-Bird Club, as an avid golfer and a member of Del Rio Golf & Country Club in Modesto; a member of the Lions Club of Manteca; and a world traveler reaching all the continents of the world.
He was the son of the late Chauncey G. Bianchi and Rose Bonzani Bianchi. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Broder Bianchi of Hollister; his children Robert W. Bianchi (Spouse Crystel) of Hollister, and Karen Ann Machlan (Husband Rex) of Palm Springs; grandfather of Paul and Steven Bianchi of Hollister, and Sherrie Gilcrest (Husband) Terry of Tuttle, Oklahoma; great grandfather of Luke and Eli Gilcrest.
Friend are invited to attend the funeral service on Thursday afternoon at 3pm at the chapel of Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San Benito St.
Visitation will begin at 10am Thursday morning at the mortuary chapel. Private cremation will follow with inurement at St. Benedict’s Columbarium.
Donations are preferred to the Manteca Museum Society or to Sacred Heart School Foundation c/o Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San BEnito st., Hollister 95023
