EVERETT — Arden William France hated his name. It wasn’t until age 8, when he fell out of a tree and was brought to the hospital, that he demanded his family and doctors refer to him as “Bill.” And from then on, they did.
“That was his first child advocacy moment,” Sarah France, Bill’s wife of 60 years, said with a laugh. “And it never stopped.”
Bill France died at 83 March 8 after battling Parkinson’s disease and heart disease for seven years. Born in Wenatchee, Washington, Nov. 13, 1941, Bill’s life was defined by his unwavering commitment to helping others, especially children who experienced trauma.
Bill worked at the King County Juvenile Court and then spent 17 years at Luther Child Center in Everett as an outreach specialist and counselor, dedicating his expertise to helping at-risk youth. However, it was at the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office where his legacy truly took shape.
When Bill entered the prosecutor’s office as a social worker, he was one of the first five victim advocates in the country, Sarah said. Coming from a stable, happy household, Bill was appalled to learn about the abuse some children endured.
He couldn’t ignore it.
“He was so intense about fairness and family,” Sarah said. “The predators were put away.”
For 41 years at the prosecutor’s office, Bill worked tirelessly as a victim advocate, supporting children who had endured trauma and struggled with mental health issues. He played a pivotal role in establishing Dawson’s Place, a one-stop center for children where specialists could collaborate to offer comprehensive support. Prior to Dawson’s Place, children had to visit multiple locations for services; now, all the specialists came to them.
When he retired from the prosecutor’s office, Bill left behind a legacy of training dozens of social workers to follow in his footsteps as victim advocates.
“The pinnacle of his career was when he wrote the grant for Dawson’s Place,” Sarah said. “It was the last thing he did before he retired.”
Bill was not only a dedicated social worker but also a writer. For 16 years, he penned a popular weekly parenting column called, “Parent Talk,” for the Herald, where he offered advice on child-rearing and focused on children’s mental health. He wrote the column while his eldest daughter Christina France was still in high school.
Outside of work, Bill was defined by his role as a family man. He coached Christina’s basketball team for five undefeated years.
“His family was everything to him,” Christina said.
Growing up, Christina often encountered people who had worked with her father. While the work was confidential, it wasn’t unusual for people to approach her and say, “Your dad saved my life. Your dad protected me.”
“When these people would tell me what they had been through and what my dad had done, two words were used regularly together: fierce and gentle,” Christina said. “He was gentle … but they trusted that he would be fierce for them.”
Bill had a passion for poetry, photography and storytelling — skills he developed during his time at the University of Washington, where he earned a degree in Journalism and English, later adding a master’s in social work. He was also known for his love of puns and jokes.
Bill and Sarah met in high school in Wenatchee. Sarah walked into the shoe shop where Bill worked, wearing her favorite red coat, and they immediately started dating.
“I was smitten,” Sarah said.
Sarah, also a social worker with a specialty in children and families, and a Lutheran pastor who still occasionally leads services, recalls a day when they were going to church and learned about a mother in need of a kidney transplant. Bill volunteered without hesitation, knowing the woman had two young daughters.
The woman, still alive today, visited Bill in his final weeks. “I wanted those girls to have a mother,” Bill said to Sarah years ago. “So they could graduate from high school … from college, and be comfortable in their adulthood.”
“Just giving one kidney, represented his legacy of being a child advocate,” Sarah said.
In his final years, Sarah lovingly cared for Bill, considering it an honor.
“We were really very much soulmates,” Sarah said. “Taking care of him was my privilege.”
“And he flirted until the day he died,” Christina replied.
Even at the end, Bill remained analytical, always searching for wisdom in every situation. “He would often say, ‘I don’t like this part of my life, it’s really hard, but man, it’s interesting,’” Christina said.
A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. April 19 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 215 W Mukilteo Blvd., Everett, WA 98203.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sarah France; daughter, Christina France (and spouse Vickie France); son, Adam France (and spouse Cathy France); son, Jacob (CJ) France; grandchildren, Brianna Byers, Jon Byers, Hunter France and Emily Repp (and spouse Casey Repp); and great-grandchildren, Phoenix Repp and Tatum Repp. He is also survived by his brothers, Greg France (and spouse Karen France) and Jeff France (and spouse Terry France). He was preceded in death by his sister, Becky Gapan.
“He was a gentle family man and a fierce advocate,” Sarah said. “And that’s how we’ll remember him.”
Aspen Anderson: 425-339-3192; aspen.anderson@heraldnet.com; X: @aspenwanderson.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
Gallery
