William L. “Bill” Denlinger

William (Bill) L. Denlinger, born on June 12, 1933, passed away peacefully in Columbus, Ohio on

April 16, 2025, at the age of 91 with his family at his side.

Bill was the only child of Howard and Mae Denlinger and was born, raised, and lived his life in

Trotwood, Ohio. Bill attended Trotwood Madison High School where he excelled on the baseball

field and basketball court and continued playing baseball as an adult with the local American

Legion Red Sox team. Bill attended The University of Cincinnati and in 1956 graduated with a

degree in Civil Engineering. Bill married Charlotte Shellhaas his childhood neighbor and classmate

before graduating UC and honeymooning in the Smokies. He was hired shortly as an engineer with

Woolpert Consultants after graduating where among other responsibilities, he was instrumental in

the design and development of the City of Huber Heights, Ohio from its initial planning in the 1950’s

and future growth to his retirement in 1998.

Bill was a passionate gardener and got great satisfaction out of planting and nurturing an annual

garden and maintaining the grounds at the family’s farm into his 90’s. Bill loved the tradition of

gathering the extended family at the farm for apple butter making the old-fashioned way in copper

kettles over a wood fire.

Bill and Charlotte were actively involved with the Trotwood Church of the Brethren where he and

Charlotte enjoyed volunteering and singing in the choir with their friends and fellow parishioners.

Bill also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, fishing trips to Ontario, Canada, and hiking

the mountains of Colorado, Alaska, and California with his family. After retiring Bill and Charlotte

loved traveling with their lifelong friends and couples from church.

Bill made friends easily and over the years became quite the fix-it guy after the invention of duct

tape. He was a passionate sportsman, enjoyed watching live and televised sports, loved golf,

winning in euchre, and cheering on his grandchildren in their pursuit of sport.

Bill is survived by Charlotte his wife of 69 years and his three children Mike (Sherry), Greg (Kathie)

and Barbara (Jeff) and his four grandchildren Jim, Stephen, Nick, and Drew.

Memorial service to be held at 2:00 pm May 3, 2025, at the Trotwood Church of the Brethren, 208

East Main Street, Trotwood, Ohio. In lieu of flowers we suggest donations to the Arthritis

Foundation.