William (Bill) Nunes

Bill Nunes, born to William Nunes Sr. and Inez McMaster Nunes of Watsonville, recently passed away at Dominican Hospital surrounded by loved ones after a short illness. Though the family mourns his loss, they are thankful to have been blessed by him and for having him in their lives for so many years. He will forever be loved and missed.

Bill was raised on the Nunes family’s 32-acre ranch in Watsonville with his siblings, Oscar, Margaret, Donny, Harold and Shirley (all deceased). He grew up without electricity or indoor plumbing. Bill lived off the land, roughed it and loved it.

As a young boy he helped on the family ranch growing a garden, hunting for food and helping with all the chores. He also worked for neighbors doing various jobs.

When he was young, Bill’s favorite things were hunting with his dog Long Ears and riding his bike – and later his horse – to La Selva Beach, where he would swim and hunt for clams.

After high school Bill worked at Western Frozen Foods in Watsonville where he met his wife, Julia Quintero. They married in 1956 and had three children that they raised in Freedom: Cynthia (son-in-law Michael Gaither), Clinton (daughter in-law Irma Cortez and grandchild Sophia) and Michael (grandchildren Danielle [husband Galan], Regi [husband Josh], Michael, Nathaniel [great grandson Mathew] and Michelle).

In 1961 Bill started commuting Hecker Pass to a new job at Pioneer Concrete Pipes in San Jose where he worked until 1988. In the mid to late 1960’s, he also owned the Time Service Station on Freedom Boulevard, where he serviced telephone company trucks on the weekends. His union later provided him a wide range of jobs ranging from work at the San Francisco airport, maintaining local roads, planting trees on Pacific Garden Mall and helping with the internal finishing work at the (then new) Watsonville Hospital. He did this work until he retired in 1999. It was all hard work, and he was a hard worker who never complained.

Bill’s favorite pastimes were growing his garden, camping, taking family hunting trips to the Sierras and bringing family and friends out to Moss Landing Harbor for fishing trips on his boat.

Bill lived in Freedom the last 66 years of his life and is survived by his longtime companion Barbara Lopes, many nieces, nephews, cousins, sister in-laws and brother in-laws.

A celebration of life will be held at the Watsonville Women’s Club, 12 Brennan St. in Watsonville, Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please give to your favorite charity in honor of Bill.