William James Chinn
Marriages
Wanita Webb - September 8, 1946
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 9A - January 4, 2023
William James Chinn,
of Grand Junction, went
home to be with his Lord
on December 22, 2022. He
was 97 years old. William
was born and raised in
Fruita, Colorado. He
graduated from Fruita Union High School in 1943.
When WWII broke out, he joined the Navy at 17
and spent his naval career in the South Pacific as an
electrician on various destroyers and other larger Navy
ships.
He came home to Fruita after the war and married
Wanita Webb on September 8, 1946. One year later,
they welcomed their daughter Karen. They made their
home in Grand Junction and William went to Mesa
College for a short time.
He then went to work for the Atomic Energy
Commission at Los Alamos, New Mexico. While in
New Mexico, they welcomed their second daughter
Diana. The family moved several times in the next 10
years and ended up in Denver until 1972 when William
retired from the AEC and the family moved back to
Grand Junction. William was a talented and prolific
painter; he belonged to the Grand Junction Brush and
Palette Club for many years.
He was also an expert silversmith who created
hundreds of beautiful rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
He belonged to the Grand Junction Gem and Mineral
Club until his death. William was a member of Messiah
Lutheran Church for 50 years.
He is survived by his daughter, Diana Cato; his four
grandchildren, Kimberly (Kevin) Barnes, Ryan (Lori)
Coven, Matt (Dusti) Cato, and Leah (Amir) Genzel.
He had 14 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of
58 years, Wanita; and his daughter, Karen.
