William (Bill) Langdon Proctor

Bill Proctor passed away unexpectedly on July 12, 2023, at the Santa Barbara Harbor. Bill was born in Shenandoah, Iowa, where his mother, actress Kay Stewart, was staying with her family in the absence of Bill’s father, Langdon Proctor, who was on active duty with the US Army during WW II. Bill grew up in the suburbs of West Los Aneles and graduated from University High School. He then completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he continued on to earn a Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Computer Engineering.

He lived the remainder of his life in the Santa Barbara area and worked at various times for Wyatt Technologies and aboard ships servicing marine oil rigs. He sailed or crewed on boats along much of the California coast and participated in many regattas for classic wooden-hulled sailboats. Bill was self-taught when it came to complex skills such as celestial navigation and using a sextant. His inquisitive nature was never at rest.

He married Jill Richards in 2005. For many years, visitors from far and wide were taken sailing on his beloved sloop S/V Savannah, and he was a fixture at the Santa Barbara Harbor, where he often serenaded passers-by with his guitar. In addition to his skills as a sailor, Bill was a talented artist who produced hundreds of illustrations and drawings that have adorned the homes of people all across the country. He also wrote and illustrated books on Semiconductor Theory and Electromagnetic Fields.

Bill leaves behind his wife, Jill, his brother, Stewart, his sister-in-law Sherry, nephews Jeremy and Eliot, and niece Emily.

Bill’s Celebration of Life will take place September 3, from 12 noon – 3:00 pm at Leadbetter Beach Picnic Area, 801 Shoreline Drive in SB. Bring a snack, a beach chair, and memories to share.

In memory of Bill, contributions can be made to Good Days at https://www.mygooddays.org/donate