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Obituary for William Dilworth "Bill" Hatch
William “Bill” Dilworth Hatch, age 73, passed away on June 27, 2020, in his home, Littleton, CO.
He was born June 18, 1947, in Syracuse, New York, to Burton Dilworth Hatch and Fern Lorea McGarry Hatch, both deceased. Fourth of seven children, Bill grew up in a peaceful and happy home where his quick creative mind found room to grow. Helping others, hard work, education, and good humor, exemplified by his parents, became part of him. To his mother, Bill wrote, “My fondest memories are of family life in our home. You were the biggest part of that. I loved it so much that my only goal in life was to be a good father and to have a family. I [have] loved every minute of life with my children. The title of mother is very special, Love, your son.”
Early in life, Bill gave evidence of being “a natural born leader.” Bill was a favorite of his classmates keeping them entertained and involved as a group. He sided with younger children in family chores, fun and contests. On one occasion he took charge when his sister broke her leg, including helping carry her to where she could receive medical care. One year he tirelessly worked with his younger brother, teaching him how to pitch a baseball, resulting in his brother being chosen as pitcher for his school team. Bill encouraged a sister to try out in a University queen contest, managed her campaign and escorted her to the events following her success. This same interest in and concern for others was evident throughout his life and career. For Bill, “It’s all about the people and the relationships you build together.” Father, salesman, entertainer, composer, author, mentor, and friend, in private and in public life.
Bill served a two-year mission, Spanish speaking, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in California and Nevada. Of that experience he said, “I feel that it is more important to seek first to be a good and loyal servant and tool to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe all the rest is given to you. It is such a great work!...I always thought responsibility was a burden, but now I see it is a blessing…There are those who love unselfishly and those with hearts of gold that make life, a mission or you own pursuits, a life worth living.”
January 26, 1970, Bill married Jolyne Vest in the Salt Lake City Temple. They are the parents of six children. In 1971, Bill graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Economics, studied law and then pursued a sales career with Sears, Roebuck, Company. Early in his career Bill learned to read the newly introduced bar coding. As a result, he was called upon to assist management’s evaluation of store sales conditions in the North East Region. Promoted to corporate headquarters, Bill focused his energy, creativity, and innovational skills on focused marketing campaigns in ethnic communities. His efforts resulted in Sears being recognized by the Los Angeles Times as #1 retailer in Ethnic Marketing. During his 24 years with Sears, working in New York, Chicago, California, Colorado and Washington, D.C., Bill received numerous top awards recognizing his talent and leadership successes.
In his private life Bill sang many lead roles with the Schenectady Light Opera Company, including Tevye, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Professor Harold Hill, “The Music Man,” Billye, Carousel, ” Sir Edward Rutledge, “1776”, Captain Von Trapp, “The Sound of Music”, Lun Tha, “The King and I” and many others. Bill also composed and performed his own music including a new Boy Scout Anthem, “Honor” (free to the Pubic and available in several languages).
Divorced, December 8, 1998. Despite this estrangement, Bill continued to be available and gave his family support as needed, including education, marriage, divorce, a place to live, job counseling and encouragement.
Bill later met and married Linda Kay Sutherland, December 4, 2002 in Centennial, CO. They were sealed in the Denver Colorado Temple on January 8, 2020. When Bill failed in his first marriage, he decided to choose differently. When he and Linda met, dated, and married he would say, “I realized that I could choose differently and make marriage a source of peace.” Together they found and enjoyed 20 years of peace. Linda wrote of him, “Bill is doing well at work. I am so proud of him and continue to be amazed at the person he is, a wonderful, kind-hearted, respectful, caring, hard-working, talented, loving and not to mention handsome man. I marvel at my good fortune and love him so much. I call him my gift from Heavenly Father.”
November 1, 2014, Bill retired from Sears and turned his energy to writing. He wrote and published “The Third Great Commandment,” and “The Prodigal Parent.” Three additional books are based on his experiences and philosophy of sales and sales training, “Ride the Horses, Feed the Lions,” “The 97 Club” and “The Conversational Close” followed. His final book, “The Millennial Hope,” co-authored with Victoria Huff, focuses on the next generation’s view of life, their strengths and how to include them in the sales arena.
Quoting Elder D Todd Christopherson, “Jesus said, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) Fathers manifest that love as they lay down their lives day by day, laboring in the service and support of their families…The Lord has said that ‘all children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age.’ (D&C 83:4) Breadwinning is a consecrated activity. Providing for one’s family, although it generally requires time away from the family, is not inconsistent with fatherhood – it is the essence of being a good father. ‘Work and family are overlapping domains.’” (Blankenhorn, Fatherless America, 113)” [D Todd Christopherson, “Fathers” April, 2016 General Conference, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]. Cheerful, persistent, consistent, generous, protector, loving and kind, Bill has been such a father even when not able to be with his children.
Bill is survived by his first wife, Jolyne Vest Hatch, their children Michael William Hatch, Christopher Stephen Hatch, Matthew David (Teri Clark) Hatch Rachel Anne Hatch (Jason) Olsen, Rebecca Jo Hatch (Greg) Miller, and Joshua Robert (Kaylee Andersen) Hatch, ten grandchildren, his second wife Linda Kay (Sutherland) Hatch, and siblings, Edwin Burton (Joy Scroggins) Hatch, Wendell Calvin (Penelope Wellington) Hatch, Seila Fern Hatch (Detlef) Lehnardt, Linda Maureen Hatch (John) Glazier, Lohrea Fay Hatch (Mark) Johnson and Stephen McGarry (Mette Kerr). Hatch
Interment at Seven Stones Chatfield Botanical Gardens Cemetery, 9635 N Rampart Range Road, Littleton, CO 80125.
