It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of one of the most dedicated Scouters in Bay Area history.
Bill Bain passed away at home on April 26, 2026, after a short battle with melanoma that had spread throughout his body. He was born May 16, 1948, in Yuba City, California, the first son of George William and Anne Bain, and was raised in nearby Nicolaus. His parents and his only brother, Charles, preceded him in death.
Bill’s youth was rooted in the rhythms of farm life. He was active in 4-H and FFA, played iron man football, was the Yearbook Editor his senior year, and worked long days on the farm — working the land, mowing hay, picking walnuts, and fixing equipment — developing the practical, hands-on competence that would mark the rest of his life. As a young man, he served a mission to Bolivia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an experience that shaped his faith and gave him a lasting love of Latin America and its people.
Bill put himself through college and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Nutrition Science. After graduation, he became a licensed general contractor, and his life pivoted to a dynamic career in construction management. His love of Cal never left him — he was a long-time season ticket holder, faithfully supporting Golden Bears football through the highs and (more often) the lows.
In July 1977, Bill married Louise Hanks. Together, they raised four children: Eric (Jenny Hoffman), Melissa (Jake Spurlock), Cecilie (Scott Lee), and Laura. Family was the heart of everything he did. To ensure he was with his family, he volunteered as Scoutmaster, supported high school sports, led skills courses at Girls Camp, and spearheaded youth trips to Tijuana, Mexico, to build homes for families who had little.
Bill gave decades of service to his church and community. He served as bishop in several wards and earned the Silver Beaver Award — one of Scouting’s highest adult honors — for his work empowering young people. After retiring, he and Louise served a humanitarian mission together in the Mexico Area, drawing on everything he loved: his faith, his hands, and his deep desire to lift others. Upon returning to the USA, Bill continued lifting others, finding great fulfillment in working with the unhoused residents of Fremont.
Bill loved the outdoors and traveled widely with Louise. In retirement, he poured himself into the people who needed him most: his children and grandchildren, who were his great delight. He could often be found riding his bike along the streets and trails of Fremont, on the sidelines cheering on his grandkids during their sports games, in school auditoriums during theater and choral performances, out in the desert or mountains kicking up dust on the trail with grandkids, or in the homes of his children, engaged in projects.
He leaves behind a legacy of faith, hard work, and generous love.
Services will be held on May 15 in Fremont. For details, please visit billbain.org. Bill spent years of his career and most of his retirement working on solutions to the housing crisis. Instead of flowers, he would be honored by a donation to Abode, an organization he worked with closely, or by your engagement with programs like these serving the unhoused in our community.