WILLIAM JOHN PRICE (BILL)
Bill passed away on May 7, 2026 after a peaceful reunion with his family and friends. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to John and Peggy Price. Bill was a devout catholic and went to Judge Memorial Catholic High School where he played on the basketball and golf teams. He attended Utah State University and the University of Utah. In his early 20’s, he was diagnosed as being Bi-polar; an incredibly debilitating mental illness. Over the years, all the medications finally took a toll on his body. Bill handled his illness with grace and compassion, giving of his time by volunteering at St. Vincent De Paul’s Soup Kitchen for several years, volunteering for other charitable organizations and coaching basketball. He was an assistant basketball coach at East High School and at West High School where West’s team placed 3rd in the State Tournament. For 7 years, he was a volunteer basketball coach at the Sugarhouse Boys and Girls Club and in 1993, he received the “Volunteer of the Year” award from that organization. In 1998, Bill also received the downtown ZCMI Corporation’s “Salute to Excellence” award which was an annual award given in recognition of unselfish generosity and devotion to help those in the community who need help the most. He was a long-time member of the Bishop’s Leadership Society which supports the bishop’s ministries, programs and services. In 2003, Bill received the “Volunteer of the Year Award” from Catholic Community Services of Utah, for outstanding volunteer work at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church where he was a Eucharistic Minister, serving communion to those who were housebound and delivering sandwiches to the homeless shelter.
Bill was an amazing human being. He was generous beyond measure not only with his time, but with his money. His family and friends meant the world to him and all he ever wanted to do was to help people. He loved handing out Sacagawea gold coins, $2 bills and $1 bills to friends, kids and total strangers where he would explain to them what each imprint meant. He especially loved tipping generously to waiters and waitresses who served him or giving money to homeless people on the street.
Bill was a writer and with his “beautiful mind”, he came up with a system where every number would make a prayer. He lived his life believing in the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Forgiveness, Charity, Patience, Self- Control and Faith. He felt it was his calling to help people through prayer, so over the years, he created several different brochures and handed them out. He found support and friendship in the St. Vincent Catholic Church community.
Bill loved to play golf and he spent many a day on the golf course and the putting green. Everywhere he went, he loved meeting people and talking to them. Bill is reunited with his mom and dad and is survived by his brother, Steven Price (Jody), his sisters, Patty Brimley (Mike) and Maria Jenei and several nephews and nieces.
The family would like to thank the staff at Holladay Senior living where Bill lived the past 3 years. He made many friends there and loved his “home”. We would also like to thank Dr. Robert Strong and Melissa who have been Bill’s mental health care givers for many, many years, the St. Vincent Community and the caregivers at Renew Hospice and Home Health.
Services will be held at St. Vincent Catholic Church – 1375 Spring Lane on June 9th at 11:00 am. Interment will be at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery following the service – 275 North U Street.
In lieu of flowers, please do one kind act for someone in need or donate to the Bishop Wiegand Resource Center or the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (Utah Chapter).