William Honnold

December 19, 2020

William Honnold

Service Details

William Honnold
May 29, 1930 - December 19, 2020

William Honnold, Clive Iowa, was called home on December 19 at the age of 90. He was born in Des Moines in 1930 to Rex Honnold and Lora Jennings Honnold. Bill grew up on his grandfather Jennings’ farm in Prairie City, Iowa. He attended country schools and was a 1948 graduate of Prairie City High School, where he was a lineman on the football team.

In 1949 he married Sally Grinstead and moved to Des Moines. They were married for 57 years until her passing in 2006. Bill and Sally raised three children. Bill served in the U. S. Army in the early 1950s, serving in the Infantry in Europe before his honorary discharge as a Sergeant. Bill returned to Des Moines and worked for A&P stores, then began a long career with the U.S. Postal Service as a city carrier, mechanic and supervisor, retiring in 1985.

Bill was an amateur pilot, and rebuilt and flew several airplanes as a member of North Field Flying Club. He loved taking people for airplane rides and would point out landmarks of the Iowa countryside. He was an excellent mechanic and could build or fix anything.

During retirement he dived into his hobbies of woodworking, coin collecting and finance, serving on the board of directors for First Class Credit Union. Bill was a 69-year member of East Gate Masonic Lodge and Des Moines Consistory. At the time of his passing, he was the Lodge’s senior Past Master. He and Sally were long-time members of Immanuel United Methodist Church, and he was an active church volunteer and mission participant. Bill was a Shriner and a member of the Flying Fez, flying children to hospitals across the Midwest.

For several years Bill and Sally spent their winters in Apache Junction, Arizona, where they made many close friends. They enjoyed long cross-country car trips to visit family and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Sally, parents, sister Joan Honnold, infant daughter Sandra Honnold, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his sister Phyllis (Honnold) Stein of Greenwich Connecticut, his children Deborah (Steve) Day of Urbandale, Donavan (Julie) Honnold of Johnston, Gregory (Darlis) Honnold of Urbandale, and grandchildren Rikki (Dan) Helvick, Melissa (Dan) Krumm, John (Molly) Day, Heather Honnold, Haley (Joe) Lamp, Ryan Honnold, Jade Honnold, six great-grandchildren, and numerous in-laws and cousins.

Bill was known by all for his generosity, great sense of humor, adventurous spirit and desire to make the world a better place. His large extended family was the most important part of his life, and he always kept up with family members through visits, calls, cards and Facebook.

The family gives thanks for the outpouring of love and stories for this generous man through his long life. He made a difference in this world.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel United Methodist Church, 2900 49th Street, Des Moines Iowa 50310. A private, family graveside ceremony will be held December 31. A Celebration of Life will be planned for May 2021 if it is safe to do so.

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