I’m sorry to have to inform you about the passing of retired OCFD Fire Investigator Bill Crookshanks. Bill worked for CDF and transitioned to the OCFD, retiring from our organization in 1986 after 24 years of service. He became a Fire Investigator in 1978 and work in our investigation section until retirement. He didn’t stop there however because he created his own private fire investigation company called C & M Fire Investigations. C & M Fire Investigations has been around for a while and services California, Arizona and Nevada. He lived in Las Vegas but continued to investigate fires right up until his passing. Bill passed away in his sleep while down here in O.C. on Jan. 11th after investigating 3 fires for clients. He was 77 years old.
Bill is survived by:
Daughter and Son-n-Law – Vicki & Lee Collins
Sister – Mae Lee
Stepson – Greg Wolf and his wife Sherry Wolf
Grandkids – Lee Collins, Allison Collins, Nicholas Wolf and Madeline Wolf
Due to where Bill lived, where he grew up and his love for the Salvation Army, there will be a couple different options for your attendance below. Most everyone “on the job” today probably did not know Bill. There are a few of you still. However, our predecessors (the retired guys), many of them will. In the end, you may not have known him personally, but you did know him. Because we all share that bond of what we do and through “this” organization that we do it. We are CDF-OCFD and now OCFA Firefighters. You too, will be retired before you know it. Let’s make sure we retain the time honored tradition of honoring each other current or past. Anytime an announcement like this comes up, grab a card, get everyone to sign it, send it in and attend where you can.
The family welcomes any firefighters from the OCFA (past & present) to join them locally (see below) or attend a memorial. Bill loved and respected the fire service and those who wore the badge representing it.
(on a side note-the family told me, in retirement Bill had to battle cancer 3 times. Have you heard that “C” word come up in our job before? So, breathe the good stuff, wear it and wash it)
#1
CELEBRATION OF LIFE TO HONOR BILL (LOCAL)
January 25, 2017.
El Ranchito
2201 East First Street
Santa Ana, California
Please text your RSVP to Sherry at 951 733-8517 by January 23, 2017.
#2
GRAVESIDE MEMORIAL
Corcoran Cemetery
4170 Waukena Ave
Corcoran, CA 93212
559-992-3209
Jan. 27th
11am
#3
Church Memory Service
Salvation Army Church
830 E. Lake Mead
Henderson, NV. 89015
702-565-9578
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, they would like a donation to be made to
Salvation Army
10200 Pioneer Road
Tustin, CA. 92782
Cards can be sent to:
Vicki Collins (Daughter)
274 Arch Hill
Henderson, NV. 89074
Continue to keep Bill’s family in your prayers.
Jim Cass, President
OCFA Benevolent Association
Captain / Fire Investigator
Investigation Services Section