William "Bill" H Wilton

Bill was born on May 25, 1938 in Duluth, MN to parents Alfred and Linea Wilton. Bill passed away peacefully on April 6, 2026.

Bill graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1956. He joined the National Guard and went to work for Northwestern Bell. He transferred to Detroit Lakes where he met his future wife and love of his life, Sharon, at a local bank where she was a teller. They married on June 2, 1962 and later moved to Duluth in 1969 when Bill was able to transfer back to his hometown.

Bill was very grounded in his faith and made sure to instill this faith based passion in his children. He attended First Presbyterian Church which was just blocks from his childhood home until his passing and held his church family very close to his heart. Every week for years he would go down to church to count the offering.

Bill was staunch in his belief of family traditions, especially holidays and dinners, and passed those on to his children. Dinners were together at the table with no interruptions. Christmas Eve had a specific menu and timeline, specifically pork pie and the singing of Christmas carols.

Bill had an incredible passion for the outdoors and hunting and fishing. He would try almost anything, whether it was sports or fixing or building something. He could fix anything and was good at almost everything he tried. Bill was a member of the Northwestern Bell Pioneers after his retirement and participated in every one of the events he was able to attend. Bill developed a passion for motorcycles in his 40's leading to him and Sharon taking countless trips on one of his proudest purchases, a black BMW.

Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Sharon, who passed away in July; daughter, Michelle Bischof; sisters, Lola Nordman, Patricia Siegle, Charlene Hatland and Beverly Holzmer Rumiser; grandson, Anthony Barone; and great grandson, Gavin Barone. He is survived by his children, William M (Jana Groh), Debra (Adam) Jenson, James (Jean Arends); 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sister, Jacqueline Goss; and many nieces and nephews.

Thank you for all the calls and visits from friends and family, and the care from St. Lukes hospital.

Visitation will be Saturday, April 18 from 11:00 until the noon Service at First Presbyterian Church of Duluth, 300 E. Second Street, Duluth. Lunch will be provided after the service. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555.