m: Effie May DeHart 24 Aug 1920 in Stevens Co, WA
m: Pearl Gebbers 7 Jul 1928 in Chelan Co, WA

Quad City Herald - May 14, 1981

Bill Underwood, long time area resident dies

William R Underwood, 81, of Bridgeport, Wa., passed away Saturday, May 9, 1981, at Rat Lake, North of Brewster, while on a fishing outing.

Mr. Underwood was born in Marysville, Wa., on November 23, 1899. He lived in Marysville for a short time and then moved with his parents to Colville, Wa., and attended the Colville schools. He was inducted into the US Army Air Service on March 18, 1918 and served throughout the balance of World War I.

He was married to Pearl Gebbers in 1929 at Pateros, Wa. There was one son William R Underwood, Jr.

Mr. Underwood ran the fish hatcheries at Chelan, Pateros and Ford, Wa., for 9 years prior to purchasing an orchard on the Bridgeport "Bar" in 1945, which he operated until his retirement in 1961.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman. He was responsible for the planting of the first fish in the high Cascades area, such as Hidden Lakes. Bill would carry the fingerlings in a backpack to stock the lakes. It was his hopes and dreams that the lakes would all be good producers of fish for the hardy fishermen who would make the long hike on foot to meet the challenge of catching one of the big fish.

Bill was a big husky baseball player for the town teams of Pateros and Brewster over the years. He is well remembered for being able to knock the ball out of the park on many occasions. He loved to play ball almost as much as he did hunting and fishing and continued to play until his was in his fifties. Any good argument would find Bill right in the middle of things as be figured that was all part of the game.

Even though Bill had retired, he never gave up his love of the outdoors. He spent many seasons with his good friend Glen Schwieghardt cutting wood up in the hiss for people around the area, just for the exercise and shear enjoyment of being out in the woods.

Bill had a multitude of friends who will remember him as a very gentle, big man with a hearty laugh and always quick with a story of a big fish he had caught or a nice deer he had bagged. He could not tolerate anyone who would break the laws that covered the fish and game.

Mr. Underwood was preceded in death by his parents and his son Billy who was killed during World War II and by several brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife, Pearl at home in Bridgeport, two sisters, Edna Beck of Okanogan, Wa., and Ethel Farnsworth of Oak Harbor, Wa., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was a Master Mason in the Columbia Lodge, 193, F & AM of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport American Legion.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.