January 18, 1934 - May 12, 2020

William F. Queen was born January 18, 1934 in Franklin, North Carolina and passed away at the age of 86 from a massive stroke on May 12, 2020 in Coronado, California. He was surrounded by his family. The Queen family moved from North Carolina to Bell Gardens, California in the 1940’s and bought a home in nearby Downey where Bill graduated from Downey High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force in March 1951 and married Aleene, his high school sweetheart, in December. Bill’s basic training was in armament and he served proudly as a gunner on B-29’s while stationed in Louisiana, Colorado, New Mexico and Okinawa. Bill played baseball, basketball and track in school and continued to play sports in the Air Force. While stationed in Okinawa his basketball team played in the Far East Championship in Japan. Joe Risser, Ira Pate and Bruce Gifford were good friends in high school. Bill and Aleene’s sons, Kevin (Downey High School, Class of 1973) and Jef (Downey High School, Class of 1975) were active in North Downey Little League baseball; Bill was first a coach and very soon President of North Downey Little League in the 1960’s. He was very happy to receive emails recently from several team members saying his baseball suggestions had helped them during their lifetime. Bill owned an office machine repair business and repaired special office machines called Robotypers until computers replaced Robotypers. He worked at Santa Fe Railroad until he retired, first as a yard clerk and finally as Train Master. Being a history buff he loved to read about the Revolutionary and Civil Wars so the East Coast was a popular vacation destination. After retirement an RV was home on wheels while visiting all but 11 of the United States. Bill, Aleene, Kev, Jef and Jef’s wife Jessa, moved to Coronado in 2001. Survivors are Aleene, his wife of 68 years, sons Kevin, Jef and Jessa. Also grandchildren Matthew, Malia, Tiara, Myca, Olivia and Ela and great-grandchildren, Aiden, Kayla, Danny and Bella. Close family Janice, Vic, Juanita, Sonny, Linda, Beth and many dear friends.