WILLIAM NAWN

Will passed away in March at his home in San Diego, CA. “Bill”, “Billy”, “Will” or as his grandmother
called him, “Bill Will” was born in a taxi cab going around the Airport Circle on the way to the hospital.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Rose J Nawn (nee Dix) and James P Nawn, Jr. and his niece,
Maureen Williams (nee Nawn). He is survived by his daughter, Brandy, his grandchildren, two sisters:
Linda Price-Natter (Steve-James), Barbara Trudnak (Mike) and two brothers: John Nawn (Juana) and
James P Nawn III (Judy), and many nieces and nephews. Bill had several loves in his life, but never
married. Bill also had many new families over his lifetime.
William enjoyed scouts and sports as a child. He played on many teams including baseball, football,
hockey and softball. He also played basketball, tennis and cycled for fun and exercise. He was
enthusiastic about weightlifting and training as well. Bill worked at his family’s
greenhouse/nursery/florist business as a teen and continued to enjoy gardening throughout life. He
liked to ride dirt bikes and target shoot, even if the target was a sibling. He always enjoyed music and
attended many concerts. Bill loved cooking and eating! He enjoyed doing home improvements,
especially plaster. He loved bargains, cats, writing, art, and memes.
Bill was who he was. He had a twisted sense of humor and was always a prankster. As a kid, when his
parents instructed the kids to pick out what they wanted for Christmas in the Sears catalogue, he would
circle ladies’ underwear and baby dolls and put his brother’s name next to it. Even in his final years, he
enjoyed pranking the neighbors and had fun with a mannequin he named Cat. He struggled at times
with his mental health issues, substance abuse and in his earlier years, with the law. This was often, too
much of a strain for many around him. He did not understand that often loved ones needed boundaries
at times to preserve their mental health, but in later years, learned this when he had to do so with his
own daughter. Bill had lots of support from all of his families and AA was a huge part of his life off and
on for many years.
Bill was very extreme in all that he did. He loved hard, and lost hard. It is difficult to find anyone as hard
working, but he did that so that he could enjoy playing. Bill also knew the best ways to get out of work
and loved to talk about delivering the elderly neighbors mail in snowstorms as a teen. He knew they
would talk to him for a long time and that he would get out of his real work at the family business.
He was always very lucky and would hit big on the first machine every time he walked into a casino. But
Bill also had difficulties sometimes with basic things. With the help and support of many around him, he
was so proud to call and tell his Mom when he finally had a driver’s license in his forties. Sadly, it didn’t
last long, but he was well practiced in getting around with biking and public transportation. Sadly, as the
pandemic hit, his difficulties with his mobility and trying to avoid taking public transportation isolated
him more.
Bill worked in many different jobs, but primarily in landscaping. Bill loved the outdoors and working
with his hands. He loved shoveling snow, but not as much as worshiping the sun. He lived in Florida for
a short time, but returned to New Jersey. He also lived in Delaware and Rhode Island as a child. He
traveled via train to visit his sister in Colorado and enjoyed the trip so much, he continued onto

California. Bill fell in love with the state and returned back to New Jersey briefly, before returning to
California.
He traveled around enjoying the state and eventually became a resident in a tiny home community and
then, his last apartment. Will advocated for the homeless. He constantly worked on his final apartment
and porch scape as a tribute to Marisela, who had lived there most of her life, and had tragically passed
away. Will became a member of the Living Water Church of the Nazarene. They were his final new
family. He spoke of them with love, especially Justina, Chris and Kristen, and of loss, when he spoke of
Nina. When he was more mobile, he even made friends with a squirrel at the park, he named Rocco.
He was proud of any contribution he could make to the community he loved and was enthusiastic when
talking about events like cooking for the Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner.
Bill was blessed with support from so many during his lifetime.
Hebrews 10:24 — The New International Version (NIV)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
At times in his life, he used the Bible as rolling papers and other times he studied it. He was well versed.
Bill is with the Lord now, probably talking His ear off, working in the garden, or planning on renovating
the place. He may be giving a play by play of every Superbowl to those who missed it or just telling
them one of his stories he loved to tell. He will be missed here, but he is in the best of company now.
May memories be a blessing to all that mourn Bill/Will and comfort them in their time of grief.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in honor of Will to:
Living Water Church of the Nazarene
1550 Market St
San Diego, CA 92101

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