William Gassman Bickmore was born in Logan, Utah, July 1, 1922 to William Oldham Bickmore and Otilla Gassman Bickmore. He passed away Nov. 28, 2022, at 100 years old in Tooele, Utah. Dad had a happy childhood and a great family life. He had four siblings, Byron, Eugene, Annette, and Donald.
Bill graduated from Logan High School in 1939 and immediately enlisted in the army, as World War II was imminent. He had the opportunity to attend Officer’s Candidate School and became a Second Lieutenant at age 19 and a Captain by the time he was 20. He attended gunnery school at Fort Sill and was then assigned to serve in Europe. His job was to triangulate the artillery gunfire — he was a math guy. Bill served through the war as an Artillery Captain until 1945, when the war ended. He was then assigned to reorganize a city government in a German town. He returned home in 1945 and was honorably discharged from the military and enrolled in college at Idaho State University Pharmacy School. He met and married Maurine Jensen on Dec. 22, 1946. He graduated from pharmacy school in 1949 and was the first college graduate in his family. Bill worked as a pharmacy manager in Tacoma, Washington, and later in pharmaceutical marketing for E.R. Squibb in Walla Walla, before purchasing Caldwell Drug in Tooele, Utah, in 1960. Bill and Maurine established deep roots in Tooele and remained there for the rest of their lives. Bill was a community staple and loved serving the people of Tooele as their pharmacist and friend.
Bill and Maurine had three sons together, Paul, David, and Steven. Bill and Maurine raised their family in an exemplary way. Bill was kind, generous, and a wonderful example of integrity and honesty. Bill was an avid golfer, gardener, and Utah Jazz fan.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Maurine; their sons Paul and Steven; his siblings; and his grandson-in-law Burt Beacham. He is survived by his son David (Mary Ann) Bickmore; grandchildren Kimberly Bickmore, Jacob (Rachel) Bickmore, Megan (Lincoln) Wright, Phoebe Beacham, Michael (Courtney) Bickmore; and ten great-grandchildren Porter (Kelly), Ava, Walter, John Henry, Emmett, Olivia, Leo, Fay, Nora, and Hank.
Funeral services will be held at the Tooele 4th Ward, 192 W. 200 South, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, at noon, with a viewing prior to the service from 11 a.m. to noon. Interment will be held at the Tooele City Cemetery following the services.