In Memoriam | Bill Tice, Longtime Sierra Madre Resident

Bill Tice (Photo – Bill Coburn)

Bill Tice passed away on August 7, 2024. He was 84 years old.

By Scott Phelps

Bill was born on August 26, 1938 in Los Angeles. His parents Arthur and Dorothy, his older brother Jim and his younger sister Bobby Jo preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Yoko and two sons John and Paul. Arrangements are under the care of Douglass & Zook Funeral and Cremation Services, Monrovia. He will be interred at the Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery.

After high school, Bill joined the Army. After basic training, he completed jump school and was assigned to the prestigious 82nd Airborne, which has the nickname “All American.”

Following his Army service, Bill served in various Christian outreach programs, including doing missionary work in the Philippines. In those days, many people traveled by passenger liner ship. On one of his outbound voyages from California to the Philippines, he met his future wife, who was traveling back home to Japan.

While born in Los Angeles, Bill spent most of his childhood in Sierra Madre and developed a deep love for the town. He returned in 1978 and resided there until his passing. Bill ran for the Sierra Madre City Council in 2004.

He worked for many years as a gardener, which matched his love of nature and the outdoors. His second home away from home was Big Bear City, where he showed his skills and passion for creativity by building a cabin by himself from the ground up.

People who knew him said he was a very nice man, one of a kind, always ready to help out anyone in need.