William Dennis Carroll

William Dennis Carroll began his life journey on January 6, 1931 in Tecumseh, Nebraska. He was the second of two children born to William Everett (Jack) and Mary Ann (Seidl) Carroll. Sadly, his mother passed away in December 1936. Dennis always spoke of her as a gentle and loving mother. A few years later, his father married Margaret Leona (Morton) Carroll and they were blessed with three more children.

Dennis spent the majority of his childhood in Seward, Nebraska, where his father worked for Swanson Foods as a plant manager. He attended high school in Seward, then the family relocated to Fairbury, Nebraska just before his senior year, and then on to Worthington, Minnesota after graduation. Dennis enjoyed singing, cheer leading, football and track, as well as class plays. Later in life, Dennis traveled back to several reunions in both Seward and Fairbury.

After high school, Dennis attended college in Worthington, Minnesota, the first in his family to do so. In 1952, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, where he spent the majority of his time at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii as an aviation supply clerk. Near the end of his enlistment, he was transferred to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, and was honorably discharged in 1956.

Dennis attended San Diego State College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. While at college, Dennis met Patricia Joan Macdonald at a Newman Club dance. The two fell in love and were married February 1, 1958. They had four children in the following years: Patrick Dennis, Caroline Marie, John Scott and Sara Lisa.

After college Dennis, worked for the County of San Diego in the assessor’s office. He held several other positions including real property management and right-of-way agent. Dennis retired from his career at the County in 1993, and he and Patricia moved to Portland, Oregon.

Together, Dennis and Patti enjoyed many years of travel and made trips back to Nebraska for several milestone reunions as well as trips to Ireland, Italy, Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia and Washington DC and more. Dennis was always looking for a new opportunity for learning and adventure.

Dennis enjoyed many hobbies during his life including backpacking, jogging, woodcarving, singing in barbershop choruses and supporting the athletic and creative endeavors of his children. He was active in the RCIA program at St. Kieran Parish in El Cajon, California, their parish home for nearly twenty years. He will always be remembered for his generous heart, and his long list of volunteer pursuits. After retirement, he worked to start a new chapter of the Knights of Columbus at his longtime parish, St. Pius X, in Portland, and was the first Grand Knight elected by the council.

Dennis was preceded in death by his father, mother and stepmother, as well as his sister Mary Ann (Carroll) Andrews and brothers John Thomas and James Morton. Dennis is survived by his wife of 66 years, Patricia, his sister Susie (Carroll) Summers, as well as his four children Patrick Carroll (Sarah Kayson), Caroline Fogarty (Bill), John Carroll and Sara Carroll, five grandchildren, Crystal Marie Garcia, John-Patrick Fogarty, Nora Fogarty (Seth Jones), Clare Fogarty, Grace Marie Carroll, and one great-grandchild, Madison Rose Garcia.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 7 at 11 AM at Saint Pius X Catholic Church, in Portland, Oregon.