William E. Pile

Bill was born in Oklahoma City and his family moved to Cincinnati, OH when he was 4. He and his father were involved in the Boy Scouts which began his lifelong love of the outdoors. Bill played little league baseball and was a talented catcher. The family moved to upstate New York when he was in 8th grade. He continued with scouting and became a member of an Explorer's Mountaineering Post. He made the Adirondack Mountains and lakes his personal playground, hiking, camping, technical climbing and both lake and whitewater paddling. After graduating from high school and attending some college and working for a local contractor, he found himself traveling out west to ski and maybe stay for a summer. That took him to Durango, CO in 1981 and he never left. He worked with his great friend, Jack Wasserbach, doing fine commercial and private home cabinetry for many years. In addition to his other outdoor interests, he added biking. Road bikes, mountain bikes, races, pleasure rides; he loved it all and continued riding and volunteering even when he no longer competed. Bill enjoyed strong friendships from all phases of his life and he was true and loyal. Bill was a devoted dog owner and could be seen taking his and sometimes also his friends' dogs on long walks at Dalla Park almost every morning of the year. Bill made his mark in Durango by quietly helping many, many people.

Bill is survived by sister, Nancy Pile (Michael Laney) and nephew Zachery Laney (Kala Bhattar); Girlfriend, Shirley Osborne, who he loved dearly and who made him laugh, her children, Ryan Osborne and Ashley Howell (Bryan) and her grandchildren; and ex-wife Laura Rickard whose friendship he treasured.

He is preceded in death by his father Donald Pile and his mother Betty Pile.

There will be a celebration of Bill’s life on October 28, 2023 starting at 6pm at Zia Cantina, upstairs at the north location of Zia Taqueria.

Donations in Bill’s honor can be made to the La Plata County Humane Society, DEVO Durango, and Hospice of Mercy.