William Philip Gillette, Jr.

William Philip Gillette, Jr.

November 28, 1949 ~ December 6, 2023

William “Bill” Philip Gillette, Jr., 74, of Layton, passed away peacefully at his home following a fleeting illness.

The son of William Philip, Sr. and Marion Elizabeth Kennedy Gillette, Bill was born November 28, 1949, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Raised and schooled in Garden Grove, CA he graduated from Pacifica High School Class of 1968. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force as a flight engineer where he served one tour in Vietnam and finished out his service in Europe and Stateside until 1972. Bill then transferred to the Air Force Reserve where he then was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1974. After his release from active duty, Bill began schooling at Orange Coast College in aviation science. 

He had a successful career in the Aerospace Industry as an aerospace engineer, having worked for three major aerospace companies and tool and die manufacturers spanning a career of 40 years eventually retiring from Boeing in 2014.

On December 27, 1982 Bill married his sweetheart, Heidi Alice Heintz, in San Pedro, California. They had one child and lived in Huntington Beach, CA before moving to Layton, UT for work in 1997.

Bill was deeply saddened at the loss of Heidi on June 30, 2022, following her sudden death.

Bill enjoyed being in the outdoors especially in his younger years with stories of river rafting, hunting, backpacking, hiking, and camping. This was especially true with his son, who he would go camping and hiking with all the time, eventually taking his son to join the YMCA Indian Guides in California and becoming a Boy Scout Cub and Scout Master of local troops taking not just his son but many other boys and introducing them to the great outdoors.

His first love was that of flying however, and after separating with the Air Force, earned his pilot certificate where he would fly private aircraft for fun and entertainment. This included flying with friends to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for their famous annual fly-in air show. 

Bill will be remembered most for his kind soul, eagerness to help others when needed and lovingness to close friends and family.

He is survived by his son, Steven William Gillette of Layton; Daughter in-law Shanna Gillette and three grandsons.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and by his dear wife of 39 years, Heidi.

Per Bill’s wishes, a Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 16^th, 2023,  at the Mountain View Baptist Church, 2585 E 3000 N, Layton, Utah, where military honors will be accorded. Bill has requested that no floral arrangements be sent but that donations instead are appreciated in his honor to the Shriners Children Hospitals at the following link, https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/BillGillettememory.  

The family wishes to thank the staff of Symbii Home Health and Hospice for their kind and professional care in his final weeks as well as all other medical staff from both Holy Cross Hospital Layton and Ogden Regional Acute Rehabilitation Center in the weeks prior to going on Hospice.