Obituary: Frits van den Dungen Bille (Oct. 30, 1940-Nov. 6, 2009)

Frits van den Dungen Bille passed away on November 6, 2009, in Crescent City. He was born on October 30, 1940, in Palembang, Indonesia where he grew up and moved to Amsterdam, Holland after World War II. Frits immigrated to the United States in 1959 on a U.S. sponsorship. He joined  the U.S. Army in 1960 and became a tank operator. While stationed in Munich, Germany, he met his future wife Bärbel and they were married in 1964. That same year Frits was honorably discharged from the Army and he and his wife moved to Southern California. In 1973 they moved to Placerville, Calif., where Frits started his career with Pacific, Gas & Electric Company. He retired from PG&E in 2000. He and Bärbel then moved to Crescent City to enjoy retirement with their 3 grandchildren. He enjoyed gardening and world history.  He will be remembered as a "true gentleman" and made friends wherever he went.

Frits is survived by his daughter, Wendy and son-in-law James Bracht; grandchildren, Brian, Elaina and Eric Bracht; sister, Joyce Westerkamp; brother, Robert van den Dungen Bille and his wife Ineke; cousin, Willy Winter; sister-in-law Annemarie Warren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bärbel van den Dungen Bille; sister, Orla; parents Henri and Frieda van den Dugen Bille and cousin John Winter.

The family requests contributions be made to the USO, PO Box 96860, Washington, DC 20077-7677.

Private inurnment took place at the Del Norte County Veteran’s Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wier’s Mortuary Chapel of Crescent City.

Submitted by Wier’s

Mortuary Chapel

62466gs11-11