Obituary of Willie B. Ham

Willie B. Ham age 95 passed away peacefully on October 20, 2023 at Montecito Senior Living. He was born February 25, 1928 in Marianna, Fl. to Willie I Ham and Vanara Ham. He met his wife Elaine Wescott in Rockford, Il where they were married August 24, 1946 and had 6 children.

Willie owned Homestead Construction in Rockford, IL before moving to Lake Havasu City in 1969 where he was then employed with Shoreline Builders as Superintendent. He eventually restarted Homestead Construction after moving to Phoenix and then to Parks, AZ until retirement.

Willie enjoyed many outdoor activities such as motor cross racing, horseback riding, and later in years creating his beautiful garden of vegetables for neighbors to enjoy. He loved doing Karaoke and even made a cd of his songs which he handed out to whoever he met. He practiced quick draw, but that wasn’t always a good thing if the gun was loaded. He was a strong amazing man surviving so many death-defying accidents and illness.

Willie’s children: daughter Gloria Petersen (Larry Barnes), daughter Diane (Dan) Naill, son Thomas Ham, son Gary (Gayle) Ham, daughter Beverly (Gene) Johnson and Tammy (Ken) Schaefer.

Preceded in death by his parents, Willie I. Ham and Vanara Ham, three sisters, Elaine’s parents Gerald and Marie Wescott, loving wife Elaine Ham, and Son-in-Law Daniel Naill.

Grandchildren: Serena Petersen, Shane Petersen, Timothy Naill, Jason Naill, Sean Harris, DJ Ham, Kyle Ham, Megan Eames, Ashley Ham, Michelle Ham, Chad Johnson, Angie Johnson Gena Johnson, Daniel Rodriguez, Sonia Schiffmacher and Audie Peters. Willie had 29 great grandchildren, 1 great great granddaughter and many four-legged grand pets.

A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona.