William "Bill" “Papo” Otis, 75, of Murrieta, CA, peacefully passed away on March 22, 2023, due to natural causes at home. He would have wanted to go like it was any other regular day, knowing he was loved, while napping in his favorite reclining chair.

Born in Rochester, New York in 1947 to Howard and Mary Jane (Neal) Otis, little Billy was a curious, energetic, and silly boy who adored baseball. He remembers his reports card from first grade stated, "Billy has ‘ants in his pants’ and he needs to sit still and not talk with other kids”. He was the eldest brother of, Patti (Otis) Johnston and Larry Otis.

Dad shared stories of his youth such as stories like this:

“…how the next town over from Richfield was Bloomington, Minnesota. Bloomington had a Minor League baseball team called the Minneapolis Millers During baseball season in 1956, 1957, and 1958. I would go see 4 or 5 home games with a few of my buddies. We took a city bus to the stadium and back. The cost was like 50 cents for a ticket and about the same for a hot dog AND a coke. We loved the freedom and watching "REAL" baseball. About a year or so after we moved away, the Millers minor league team moved to another venue, and the Bloomington stadium was refurbished and became the Metropolitan Stadium for the Minnesota Twins major league team (which, over time, became the Mall of America). I was a decent baseball player and pitcher, but my best play was that of being a lefty… it threw players off their game.”

Bill was fiercely passionate about becoming a self-made man. He didn’t believe in handouts and always said, “there is no such thing as a free lunch (someone is paying for it)”. From the start of his military time in the Air Force, and after marrying his bride, he quickly realized he wanted BIG things for his wife and future family that he didn’t have growing up. He dedicated his life to both his pursuit of sales management and being a devoted husband and father, and he believed in protecting his wife and daughters at any cost. He had work ethic and drive like no other, which isn’t a surprise since his very first paying job was working one summer as a kid for his neighbor, Tony LaRocca. Tony & his brother owned LaRocca's Italian Bakery and dad was his assistant as he delivered bread every day to deli's, sandwich shops, small Italian grocery stores in and around Long Island (Port Washington, Long Island, New York from 1959-1961).

In 1965, Bill met Julie (who he nicknamed “Doolie). He remembers seeing her crossing the quad during a passing period and then again later that day during a fashion show rehearsal (the basketball players were the escorts for the show). It was then that he fell in love! After he graduated from Canoga Park HS in 1965, he enlisted in the Air Force and deployed to Hickam AFB in Hawaii (1966-1970). It was during that time that he asked his high school sweetheart from Canoga HS, Julie Skidmore, to marry him to which she said “yes”. As legend has it, he asked her several times and “the third time was the charm” because in 1967 they were married at the Canoga Park Methodist Church.

When his time in the military was complete, he attended Moorpark College and obtained his AA degree while working for ARA and Harold Witt Candy Company. This kickstarted a career in advertising sales and marketing management. His tireless work ethic and dedication to being the best at his craft quickly had him moving up the career ladder where he went on to win awards, incentive trips to places all over the world, and promotions that took and his girls to the East coast for an adventure of a lifetime! In 1988 he was promoted to one of the "founding fathers" of the first East coast version of Bell Atlantic & GTE, called CSDC. This company later became known to all of us as Verizon.

At the center of his world were his two daughters, Wendy and Tracy. He adored his girls more than life itself and supported their schooling, talent shows, father-daughter dances, birthday parties (with his famous, sometimes infamous, magic tricks), exposed them to live musical theater, attended every dance recital and cheer competition, and greeted future boyfriends at the door with an intimidating slow-grip handshake (his words) and walking them down the aisle at each wedding ceremony with a final daddy/daughter dance and memorable “toast”. Everyone on Almar Street knew him as the “Candy Man” and families on the street naturally gravitated to him because of his jokes, laughter, and how he made other people feel better about themselves. Simply put, Bill had a presence about him when he walked into any room. William always put his family first and was a dedicated father, grandfather, and loyal husband.

Most would say he is the definition of the “Greatest Grandfather” because although his adoration for Julie, Wendy, and Tracy were evident, but his upgraded obsession was his four grandchildren. Including, but not limited to, the two decades of birthday parties, Superman theme song, movies, rodeos, videos, lip synch singing, football games, rugby matches, magic shows, park playing, lunch dates, In-N-Out double-double grilled onion burger runs, milkshakes, WAM$ (walking around money),Papo punch, matching Christmas t-shirts, fist bumps, smooches and hugs, and earning the title for ‘most obnoxious grandparent’ in any audience (yelling out the name of the grandchild on stage or on the field/court), he left an impression, mark, and legacy the next generation will carry forward.

He touched many, many lives over his lifetime at the following locations:

• Rochester, NY 1947(born) to 1952

• Chicago, IL 1952 to 1953

• Richfield, MN 1953 to 1959

• Port Washington, NY 1959 to 1961

• Canoga Park, CA 1961 to 1966

• Honolulu, HI 1966 to 1969 (Hickam AFB & Honolulu)

• Sacramento, CA 1969 to 1970 (Daughter #1 born)

• Van Nuys, CA 1970 to 1972 (Humble beginnings)

• Simi Valley, CA 1972 to 1977 (Medina Ave., daughter #2 born)

• Simi Valley, CA 1977 to1988 (Almar Street)

• Fairfax, VA 1988 to 1992

• Simi Valley, CA 1992 to 2005 (Sapphire Ave.)

• Murrieta, CA 2005 to 2023

He was a strong, kind, loving, FUNNY, incredibly creative, and supportive man that had strong convictions about integrity, principles, and sheer perseverance. He had a bold voice, quick wit, and his hilarity would send everyone into uncontrollable giggles or out loud, side splitting, pee-your-pants laughter.

If you knew Bill at any level you knew he was passionate about Hollywood, live theater, movies, Las Vegas, Hawaii, musicals, basketball, Seinfeld, good food and Dodger baseball. When you were in the room with him you were ready for his SHTICK or you better be ready for him to perform (you gotta have a gimmick, he’d always say). Anything and everything related to family vacations or family time together were hands-down his most precious moments. He spent most of his retirement enjoying his family in ways only Papo would…watching life unfold as he observed Julie enjoy her grandkids, friends, cruises, dinners, BBQs, and family, all of these brought him the ultimate joy.

Bill (“Papo”) is survived by his bride Julie Maye (Skidmore) Otis (of 54 years) and leaves behind his mother-in-law, Dorothy Maye Skidmore (now 99 years old), eldest Daughter Wendy (Otis) Kerr, Son-in-Law, Tony Kerr, grandsons, Austin Michael William Kerr and Grant William Michael Kerr, Daughter Tracy (Otis) Sleichter, Garret Sleichter, and grandchildren Sienna Maye Sleichter and William Meade Sleichter.

Whether you knew him as Bill, Dad, Son, Uncle Buck, Mr. O, Papo, Husband, Mr. Bill, Uncle Bill, Big Bill, Leader, Brother, Boss, or Friend…. now is the moment to remember him with great fondness, laughter, and love.

No services will be held, as it was his wish to be cremated and scattered privately in Hawaii. The family welcomes you to visit his memorial website page to enjoy some memories, photos, and incredible stories. Everyone is encouraged to add to the page as it is through this collective sharing that we keep the memory, impact, and legacy of Bill alive which will bring great healing and joy to many.

Cards of condolence can be sent to his bride, Julie Otis. In lieu of flowers, Bill asked before he passed that donations be made to Tunnel of Towers or the Wounded Warrior Project, two programs that were near and dear to his heart as it supports military veterans and their families.

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