Memorial Rites to Be Held for William Bristol

A memorial service will be held for William (Bill) Irving Bristol Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Bellflower Civic Auditorium.

Bristol, 64, who was known as the unofficial city photographer, died Feb. 2 of a heart attack.

Bristol was a volunteer photographer for the City Council who took thousands of pictures of presentations of plaques and proclamations made during council meetings, city officials said.

“Bill could been seen taking pictures, rushing home to his darkroom and coming back with the developed pictures, many times before the meetings ended,” said Muriel MacGregor, president of the city’s Heritage Society.

Bristol, who moved to the city after retirement from the Navy in 1963, was heavily involved in community and civic affairs. He held a number of civic and cultural affairs appointments. He also served a term as chairman of the Bellflower Symphony Assn.

Chaired Bonds Firm

Bristol was the chairman of the Public Facilities Corp., a private company created in 1981 to sell bonds worth $4.5 million to build city hall. He served on the Planning Commission from 1978 to 1980.

Born in Sacramento, Bristol graduated from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He joined the Navy and served for 20 years in electronic engineering. He retired as a lieutenant commander.

He is survived by his wife Jane; two sons, Bill Blair Bristol of San Bernardino and Peter D. Bristol of Marietta, Ga.; a daughter, Molly Boswell of Norwalk; a sister, Barbara Taylor of Vallejo, and six grandchildren.