William Harrison Flick Wiltshire

William Harrison Flick Wiltshire was born Dec. 29, 1930, in Martinsburg, and died at home in Pensacola, Florida on March 7, 2015, at the age of 84.

He was the son of Virginia White Wiltshire and Harrison Flick Wiltshire.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Edith Hayward Wiltshire (Nikki); and their four children, Ashley Wiltshire Spotswood, Winn Wiltshire Crockard, William Harrison Flick Wiltshire Jr. and Ashton Hayward Wiltshire; and nine grandchildren, Robert Keeling Spotswood Jr., Mary Hayward Spotswood Eudailey, Hastings Faulkner Crockard, Jane Comer Crockard, William Francis Crockard, William Harrison Flick Wiltshire, III, Brody Hayward Wiltshire, Jon Ashton Wiltshire, and William Tucker Wiltshire. Bill is also survived by his two siblings, Jane Wiltshire Snyder and James Faulkner Wiltshire; and many nieces and nephews.

A graduate of the University of Florida School of Law, Bill enjoyed a long and highly accomplished career as a trial and appellate lawyer. He was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and served for many years on the Civil Rules Committee of the Florida Bar Association. Bill was devoted to his practice, cared deeply for the profession and its members, and was well-respected for his tenacious advocacy for all clients, both the weak and the powerful. Bill was especially proud of his service as general counsel for the National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, for which he received the Lifetime Service Award in 1998.

After his graduation from Shepherd College in 1951, Bill received his commission in the Navy, and in 1953 was privileged to become a Naval aviator. Among others, Bill flew the F9F-8 Cougar and A4 Skyhawk. Bill served on the carrier USS Ticonderoga and was a flight instructor at the NAS Sherman Field. Bill continued his service in the Aviation Reserve, and retired as a commander in 1970. Bill’s love of aviation continued, and he flew privately for another 20 years.

Bill was on the executive committee of the Fiesta of Five Flags, and was president in 1977. He was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club, and served as a director of both the Gulf Coast Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the City of Pensacola Airport Advisory Board. Bill was an avid outdoorsman, and a founding member of one of the South’s finest hunting clubs, Hit ‘N Miss, which prospers to this day. Bill was much loved, and is well remembered.

While a man of many interests, above all Bill loved his family. He leaves behind an extended family whose members embrace Bill’s legacy of courage, hard work, honesty, and dedication to family, the Navy and his community.

A memorial service took place at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Barrancas National Cemetery, at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Flight Academy, 1 Fetterman Way, Pensacola, FL 32508.