William L. "Bill" Wales, Jr.

William L. Wales known to family and friends as Bill was born August 27, 1947, to William C. Wales and Laura Lee Onstott in Vallejo, California. He passed from this life on September 17, 2023, in Wichita, Kansas after an 18-year battle with multiple myeloma. Bill graduated from Arkansas City High School and joined the United States Navy during the Vietnam Era. He retired from Boeing after 28 years of service. As an active member of the Knights of Columbus he held several leadership positions. Bill was also known as "Willy the Clown" during his early years of making people happy. In recent years, he volunteered at the VA Hospital and as a Eucharistic Minister in the Via Christi hospital system.From his first marriage to Janne M. Jones was born a daughter, Sherri, and a son, Joseph. The marriage ended in divorce.On February 12, 2000, he married Helen Krankota. From this marriage he was blessed with three stepchildren: Judy, Sean, and Jennifer. Bill and Helen enjoyed church, family, and travel.Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sharon Reed. Survived by his wife, Helen; his foster brother, John Hency; his son, Joseph Wales; and daughter, Sherri (Roger) Estes; and stepchildren, Sean Krankota (Christine), Judy Cantrell, Jennifer Krankota (Rick Ravnsborg); grandchildren, Michael, Michelle, Alex, Haley, Sierra, Amelie, Reece, and Daxton; great-grandchildren, Remington and Paisley who gave him great joy in his last year. Visitation will be from 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Rosary will be at 7:00 pm, Friday, September 29, 2023, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Holy Savior Catholic Church, 3000 E. 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67214. Interment will follow at Ascension Cemetery, 7200 E. 45th St. N., Bel Aire, KS 67226, at 1:00 pm.In lieu of flowers, memorial have been established with: Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202; A Better Choice, 3007 E. Central Ave., Wichita, KS 67214; All Saints Catholic School, 3313 E. Grand, Wichita, KS 67218 (for the school’s HVAC system).