"When I have Done My Best" was appropriately sung for Bill at his funeral.

William Eugene Littler was born in Newburg, Missouri, about 1916 to Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Littler. The Littler family, consisting of sons William and John and daughters Roberta, Marjorie and Mary, settled in Turlock, California. William attended elementary and high school in that Central Valley community. After graduating from high school, Littler enrolled in Modesto Junior College. When the family moved to Santa Cruz in the late 1930s, he joined them in their Twin Lakes home and established his residency in the county.

In February 1941 Littler joined the US Navy and was sent to San Diego for basic training. Following boot camp, he was assigned to naval aviation and rose through promotions to air radioman second class. He subsequently joined an air detachment unit in the North Pacific and served with it for over a year.

While flying a mission at an unidentified location over the North Pacific on May 24, 1943, Petty Officer Second Class Littler's plane crashed and he was killed. His remains were returned to California in 1946 for burial in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno.

(SCSn May 27, 1943 1:3, June 3, 1943 3:5; SCR June 4, 1943; USDVA)