1932-2021 ⢠Union William Charles âBillâ Paxton, 88, of Union, died Feb. 26 at a retirement community in Baker City. A service will be held at a later time. Arrangements are by Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, La Grande. Known as Bill, he was born July 8, 1932, in La Grande, to Charles William and Jennie Belle (Tracy) Paxton. He was raised and educated in Elgin and Union, graduating from Union High School in 1950. Bill joined the U.S. Air Force and served most of his enlistment in Germany as a teletypist. After his honorable discharge in 1955 as a senior staff sergeant, he went to the Portland Radio and TV College and earned an associate degree. In 1956 he married Ann Schmidt in Portland. Ann died in 1988 after 32 years of marriage. In 1990 Bill married Betty âBetsyâ Anderson in Union.