Donald W. (Bill) Fraser Jr. was born Dec. 28, 1948, to the world-famous, gold-medal skier Gretchen Kunigk Fraser and passed away on Sept. 1, 2013.
Bill grew up in Vancouver, Wash., where his father owned the Don Fraser Oil and Gas distributing company. He attended school in Vancouver and attended Shaddock Military Academy in Minnesota. He joined the Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam. He married Linda in 1970 and they raised their children, Heather and Jeff, in Woodinville, Wash. He was part of the Army Reserve’s 92nd Aviation Co. and was a hydraulic specialist on “Chinook Helicopters” at Paine Field in Everett, until 1980. He managed Aurora Rents North, an equipment rental shop after that time until 1988. After a divorce in 2000, he moved to Texas where he resided with longtime partner and friend Mary Lou King, until he passed away due to a stroke.
He was a mechanically gifted person and his passion was working on and showing classical cars. He belonged to numerous car clubs and won awards for his ’72 Pantera, ’55 Chevy and ’03 Mini Cooper.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gretchen and Don Fraser of Sun Valley, Idaho. He has left behind his children, Heather Fraser in Snohomish, Wash., Jeff and Michelle Fraser; grandsons Nathan, Parker, Wyatt and Eli in Lake Stevens, Wash., and a lot of friends and other relatives.
A celebration of his life will be held at Heather Fraser’s home, 4717 143 St. SE, Snohomish, Wash., on Sept. 21 from noon to 3 p.m.
