Lasting Memories

William Rodgers Farrar
June 14, 1927-Dec. 8, 2020
Menlo Park, California

William Rodgers Farrar passed away peacefully at Stanford Hospital on December 8th, on a day and time when he otherwise would have been playing golf at his beloved Stanford Golf Course.

Bill was born in Alhambra on June 14, 1927. He attended Alhambra High School, played football there as a left end and was very proud to make the First Team All-California his senior year.

During high school, Bill and a classmate managed a local Standard Oil gas station. The owner of the station had joined the Army, so Bill and his friend leased the station as they had worked there for a few summers. Standard Oil was skeptical of two high school kids running the business; however, they trained the two young men in lubricating, servicing, salesmanship and courtesy until the company were convinced they could do everything properly. Due to the war effort, the station was allowed to remain open only from 2 pm to 10 pm, so Bill and his new partner were able to work there after school. Standard Oil’s requirements of good salesmanship and courtesy would come in handy later in Bill’s life.

When Bill turned 18 in June 1945, he was inducted into the Navy on his birthday, missing any birthday celebration as well as his high school graduation. After the war ended, Bill was accepted to Stanford University and joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He made many wonderful life-long friends from this association.

Bill played Junior Varsity football at Stanford and was coached by Chuck Taylor. He graduated with a degree in Political Science in June of 1950 and that summer, he and Nancy Louise Lagomarsino were married at the Carmel Mission. Bill graduated from Stanford Business School in 1953. His first job was working for Container Corporation of America (CCA) at CCA’s plant in Emeryville, where his supervisor was Clint Eastwood’s father. Bill enjoyed a long career in the packaging industry.

Aside from his family, Bill loved two things more than anything: playing golf at Stanford and fly-fishing on the Madison River in Ennis, Montana. Nothing in the world made him happier than being at one of those two places.

Bill was predeceased by his wife Nancy Louise Farrar, a daughter, Michele Louise Farrar, his brother, Gordon Farrar and his sister, Jeanie Mamin.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Caroline Grey, his son-in-law, Richard Grey, his son, William Farrar, Jr., three grandchildren, Kelly Hitchcock, Tyler Farrar, Dylan Farrar and a great-granddaughter, Louise Hitchcock. Louise, who was named after two great-grandmothers, was born two days before Bill’s 93rd birthday last June.

Bill's service was held outside last month at Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park with five family members present. The comments below were written by Richard Grey, excerpted from the service:

“Bill leaves a huge hole in our hearts. He was a major positive force in each of our lives, as he fulfilled perfectly the roles in which we knew him, father, grandfather, father-in-law, friend. For each of us, he was a loving relative, a mentor, a teacher, a wonderful companion, and always, always a shining example of the best qualities in a man.

“But more than the way he treated each of us, it’s important to recall that Bill was kind, not only to his family, but to everyone. He treated all of us, no matter his or her station in life, with dignity, respect and kindness. He was also generous, not only with money and goods, but with his time and attention, always with patience, kindness, good humor and grace.

“Each of us has had his or her own experiences with Bill’s inherent goodness, and we cannot help our sadness today. However, out of Bill’s goodness, he would always have wanted each of us to carry on. He would never have been so wrapped up in himself that he would want or expect us to live up to his example. But perhaps we can do so on our own, showing kindness, generosity and respect to our family and others every day. In so doing, we would honor his memory.”

If you wish to send a remembrance supporting the men’s undergraduate golf program, please send a check to Stanford Men’s Golf, 641 East Campus Drive, Stanford, California 94305.