William R. Bill Tibbs, 81, of Kennewick, WA, passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House with his family by his side. Bill was born May 7, 1927, in Hastings, Nebraska, to Rufus and Beulah Tibbs. Bill met his life sweetheart, JoAnn Gooch, at a roller skating rink in 1946; two years later, they married and were eventually blessed with three beautiful children. Bill began his career at the age of seventeen with the Merchant Marines and shortly after moved into the electrical trade as a Lineman or Line Electrician throughout the electricity boom of the 1950's. He became a Master Electrician and maintained his membership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW for over 50 years. Bill was a self-driven man; a perfectionist, hard worker and known throughout the community as the man who could fix anything. Bill had a special love for his family and was dedicated to spending time with them. He enjoyed camping and hunting and working on various projects around the house and in his garage. He will be remembered as an outstanding mentor and teacher by his family and beloved by everyone who knew him. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and two sisters. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; four siblings: Edith Oakes, Barbara Dennis Earl, Jimmy Katie Tibbs and Tommy Tibbs; three children: Bill Tibbs, Janie Tibbs and Debbie Pat Loftus; seven grandchildren: Rick Bean, Nikki Greg Kaiser, Dustin Morantes, Tim Krista Blair, Crystal Jeff Schell, Angie Loftus, and Nick Loftus; four great-grandchildren: Sydney Kaiser, Dalton Kaiser, Cassidy Schell and Carson Blair. Cremation is under the direction of Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home. Friends are invited to join the family in celebration of Bill's life at the Tibbs residence 438 S. Tweedt Street in Kennewick on Sunday, April 26, 2009, from 2-6pm. Memorials may be made to the Hospice at the Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA or to http://www.tcchaplains.org/