92, beloved to all who knew him, was called to his Father in Heaven on October 27, 2016. He passed in his sleep after a brief illness. He was born on August 13, 1924, the oldest of 8 children. He grew up on Washington Street in the St Joseph parish in Butchertown. A child of the Depression, his family remained on the second floor of their house during the 1937 flood. Bill left Male High School after his freshman year to help support his family.Bill was drafted into the US Army within weeks of his 18th birthday and saw over 300 days active combat during World War II in New Guinea and The Philippines. He won two battlefield promotions, Combat Infantry Badge, 4 Bronze Stars and The Philippines Liberation Medal. Truly a member of America's greatest generation.On his return from WWII, he married the love of his life Shirley Anne Vetter Gardner and they set out to build a life and a family. He was a devoted husband and father of 9 children, 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.Under the GI Bill, Bill earned his High School GED, then entered and graduated in 1950 from the University of Louisville with a BS majoring in physics and mathematics. He was the first of 16 graduates of his immediate family from Uof L.In 1960 Bill became an entrepreneur. He was the founder of United Optical, raised money from investors and successfully launched his wholesale optical laboratory. That company was successfully sold to Bluegrass Optical in 1971. Later, Bill founded Progressive Optical which he owned along with 4 of his sons and ran that business until 1989. He was preceded in death by his wife and mother of his 9 children, Shirley Vetter Gardner; brothers, Kenneth and Jesse and sister, Gloria Horrall, and is survived by his sisters Joy Mullin, Juanita "Sis" Gavin, and Dorothy "Dodie" Gimbel, brother Jack Gardner, and children, Linda G. Farmer (Frank), William, Jr. (Beverly), Kenneth (Marielena), Timothy (Frankie), Robert (Bobbie), Patricia, John, James, and Thomas (Marti).Visitation will be at Ratterman's Funeral Home, 3800 Bardstown Road, on Tuesday November 1st from 2-8 p.m. with a funeral service at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1960 Bardstown Road on Wednesday November 2nd at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to Hosparus of Louisville or the in his name. Online condolences may be left at www.ratterman.com