Bill (O. W.) Colgate passed away July 22, 2012. He was born July 22, 1921, in Cañon City, to Albert B. Colgate and Lillian (Geraghty) Colgate in the home his grandfather built for his grandmother. He was the sixth child of nine.
Bill Colgate attended school Canon City, graduating from Canon City High School in 1939. Later, he served overseas during World War II with the United States Air Force (Army Air Corp) in the China/Burma/India theatre.
In 1946, Bill married Mable Wolff in Silver Cliff, where he worked in the local mines. In 1948, Bill and Mable, with daughter Sharon moved to Fort Collins, where son Bobby was born. Bill attended Colorado State University under the G.I. Bill, obtaining a degree in agronomy.
After graduation Bill worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service in the Flagler, Ft. Lupton and Brighton, Colorado areas for over 30 years. Bill always spoke fondly of the many good friends and companions he found amongst his co-workers, S.C.S board members, and the farmers and ranchers with whom he worked.
Bill retired from the Soil Conservation Service in 1979 and returned to the family home in Cañon City. His main hobby was completing work on his cabin in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, constructed largely from salvaged materials.
In retirement Bill also enjoyed working in his yard and orchard, fishing the lakes and streams of southern Colorado, and visiting with friends and relatives. Bill Colgate was a life member of Elks Lodge 610 in Cañon City, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mable (Wolff), of Cañon City; three daughters, Sharon Wilson, Patricia Stuckey (Jeff), Peggy Colgate; and his younger brother George Colgate. He is also survived by one son-in-law, three grandsons, one granddaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and three sisters, and his only son Bobby (Robert) Colgate.
Bill’s wishes were for immediate cremation with no services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Colorado 4-H Foundation (www.co4hfoundation.colostate.edu), the Wounded Warriors Foundation (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), the WWII Veterans Foundation (http://wwiifoundation.org), or any local FFA (Future Farmers of America) scholarship organization.