"I worked with Bill in Streets. He was a wonderful man and co-worker. He had quite a life which I learned from reading this. He leaves a great legacy."
In loving memory of
Bill Ross Bain
April 24, 1935 - April 21, 2022
Although born in Houston, Texas, Bill and his family moved to Long Beach when he was a child. In high school, Bill lettered in three sports; football, basketball, and track. After graduating, Bill became a ski instructor at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in winter, and was a lifeguard in Long Beach in the summer. Bill enjoyed southern California sports, becoming an expert surfer, high platform diver, fisherman, and championship volleyball player.
When drafted into the Army in 1962, Bill served with the 10th Mountain Division in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was an instructor at the Cold Weather Mountain School, and taught skiing, mountain climbing, and cold weather survival to the Special Forces. He also participated in mountain rescue and air disasters. Bill parachuted--with his skis--to the site of downed aircraft to determine the need for a rescue. He could then climb and/or ski out. While serving in Alaska, Bill climbed many peaks, including Mt. McKinley (Denali) and numerous others. Some of his climbs were first ascents.
Bill was selected to compete on the US Olympics Ski Team, but was later disqualified because he had been paid to ski in movies.
After his discharge from the Army in 1964, Bill attended the University of Arizona on a football scholarship while getting his Civil Engineering degree.
Bill married Diane Rutledge in 1966 and they had one son, Clifford Bain. Bill was the City of Phoenix Traffic Signal Engineer until his retirement in 1997. Bill oversaw the design and installation of the first computerized traffic signal system in the United States.
Bill enjoyed backpacking, mountain climbing, skiing, volleyball, softball, handball, foreign travel, and working on home additions/improvements.
Bill is survived by his wife, Diane; son, Clifford Bain; daughter-in-law, Kim Bain; and grandsons, Devon and Curtis Bain.