Charles Pitcher.
– Charles William “Bill” Pitcher, age 92, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2024. He was born in Highland Township, Iowa on May 12, 1932, to Walter and Dorothy Pitcher, the second of five children. Bill met and married Coryina Ella Hoffert in 1953 and was happily married for 70 years.
Bill is survived by his wife Coryina and his loving daughters, Belinda Christensen (George “Hoss”) and Debbie Hudson. He was a cherished grandfather to Tyler Christensen (Melissa), Sara Christensen (Cameron Smith), Cole Hudson (Corey), and Whitney Meyer (Robert) and was very proud of his nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Connie Gray (Darrell) and Barbara Liontas. Bill was preceded in death by his siblings Bonnie Knudson and Tom Pitcher.
Bill grew up in Iowa working in his Dad’s filling station and playing high school football. Following his love of the sport, Bill played for the Hawkeyes at the University of Iowa and later for the Beavers at Buena Vista College where he completed his teaching degree. After teaching in Iowa for a short time, he and Coryina traveled to King City, California to pursue his teaching and coaching career.
Starting in 1957, Bill was a teacher, a coach, and the athletic director at various times for the local high school, the King City Mustangs. During his 11-year tenure as head football coach, Bill had championship teams in 1964, and 1966 and an undefeated team in 1967. Until his retirement in 1992, Bill amassed 59 wins as the head coach, 30 more than any other coach at that time. During his time at KCHS, Bill had a significant impact on scores of student-athletes. In addition, Bill was active in the community as a member of the King City Jaycees and the King City Lions Club for 50+ years. Recognizing his contribution to his students and the community, Bill was elected into the King City High School Hall of Fame in 1999.
Bill and Coryina retired to Lake Nacimiento where you could find Bill fishing, water skiing, and cutting firewood. Bill’s zest for life extended to the dance floor at weddings, snow skiing, and rolling dice at the tables in Reno where he was an occasional winner.
Bill may be known for his passion for Mustangs, Iowa, and 49er football, but his strongest devotion was to his wife Coryina.
Bill Pitcher’s positive energy and leadership affected many young adults. His commitment to his students, the community, and his family is undeniable and he will be remembered for many years. He will be missed.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on July 22, 2024, at 11:00 am in the Orradre building at the fairgrounds in King City. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to King City High Athletics Booster Club – Mustang Bench in memory of Bill Pitcher.
King City Mustang Bench, in memory of Bill Pitcher, PO Box 410, King City, CA 93930.
“Once a Mustang, always a Mustang.”
From legacy.com.
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