Bill is the son of Stanley and Katherine Jackovich Papich. He was born in Lovilia on December 24, 1929. Stank and Katie will be remembered for running Papich Grocery in the south end of Lovilia all their married lives.
Bill had graduated from American Institute of Technology in Des Moines, Iowa and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
His wife of 56 years is Sally Southwick Papich. They have a son William of Decatur, Alabama. They also have three daughters. Julie Wooten of Rogers, Arkansas; Pam Papich of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Kathy Cherryholmes of Collierville, Tennessee.
Bill’s brother Stan survives and lives in Bloomington, New York. His sister, Dorothy Crum, lives in Iowa City, Iowa.
Bill and Sally have five grandchildren.
Bill retired from working for Southwestern Power Administration Department of Energy. He was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. His pastimes were gardening, hunting, and fishing, and Wednesday poker with the guys.
Services were held Aug. 18, 2012 at his church in Jonesboro. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Rosary and family visitation was the night before at Emerson Funeral Home chapel.