William Richard Sullivan

Bill spent his childhood growing up on his family’s farm. He loved being in the country, spending time on the family’s camp on the Mississippi River, and learning about how mechanical things worked. He moved to Fullerton, California in 1980 where he attended high school and played football.

In 1981, Bill met Karen Smith at Fullerton Union High School in math class. Two years later they were dating, and on August 1, 1987, they were married. They went on to have two daughters, Nicole and Hannah.

Bill graduated from Fullerton Union High School and attended Fullerton College. He went on to have a successful career as a professional in the Oil Construction and Tank Building industry, working at companies such as HMT, Matrix Service Inc., and Pacific Tank. Many knew him as a mentor as he advanced into leadership positions. Relationships were a priority to Bill, both in his personal and professional life. He created lasting memories and friendships with each person he met.

Bill is survived by his wife, Karen Sullivan, daughters and son-in-laws; Nicole & Kyle Craig (Fullerton, CA) and Hannah & Nolan Atkins (McKinney, TX), and grandchildren; Emma Craig and Baby Boy Craig (due 2/29/24). Furthermore, Bill is survived by his father, Richard Sullivan, brother, Tim (Shauna) Sullivan, brother-in-law, Dave (Lori) Smith, sister-in-law, Shelley Kincade, and father and mother-in-law, Jim and Pauline Smith. Many nieces and nephews for whom he cared for deeply also survive him. His mother, Janet Sullivan, and niece, Katie Miller, predeceased Bill.

Bill will be remembered as a man of integrity, strong morals, and a loving heart. He enjoyed many hobbies including working in his garage on anything with a motor, vintage cars, off-roading in the desert, camping, traveling, and making memories with family and friends. Bill was a man you could always depend on, who could fix most, if not all, things around the house, and who protected and supported the ones he loved.

A funeral service will be held on 2/13/2024 at 11:00am at Eastside Christian Church, in Anaheim, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Parkinson’s Foundation or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.