Bill J. Zoucha

Bill passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his girls on February 17th after a long struggle with multiple health issues. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Heart Hospital for their loving care during his long stay there. Bill was born in Concordia, Kansas, on September 19, 1950 to Fred E. Zoucha and Geneva Ratcliff Zoucha Bish. He is survived by Margaret (Nichols), his wife of nearly 50 years, his daughters Nichole (Roy) Valentine and Whitney Zoucha, granddaughters Aubrey and Kelsey Valentine, siblings Pamela (Brian) Jensen and Paula (Bill) Holub, brothers-in-law Harry (Ruth) Nichols and Allen (Fran) Nichols, as well as many nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial at Sandia Presbyterian Church, 11:00 on March 16, 2026.

Bill was a proud Eagle Scout. He made lifelong friends as member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity at the University of New Mexico, graduating in 1973. He was a charter member of Sandia Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir for many years. His love of performing led him to appear in over 25 musicals and productions with the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera and Albuquerque Little Theater.

After college, Bill traveled throughout NM as a credit reporter for Dun & Bradstreet. In 1977 he founded New Mexico Dancewear in a 300 square foot office space on Wyoming, eventually expanding and moving into Hoffmantown Center on Menaul. After selling the dancewear store years later, Bill used his creativity and business acumen in many ways. His love of woodworking began a new career, starting with turning hardwood laminated eggs. That endeavor expanded into Timepieces Studio and later Laser Time. He spent several years showcasing his clocks, hair clips, jewelry, decorative boxes, and ornaments on the arts and crafts show circuit. Locally his work was featured in both Weems and Amapola Galleries. When he sold his laser he became Director of Operations for Jule-Art, Inc. an acrylic display manufacturer. After that he went to work for FEMA as a disaster inspector. For several years Bill traveled throughout the country assessing the devastation caused by hurricanes, fires, and flooding. When his health didn't allow him to keep up the rigorous pace for that job, he put his acting skills to use as a standardized patient for UNM's medical student training program.

Bill was a man with many talents, collections, and hobbies. Through the years he immersed himself in collecting antiques, old phonographs and records, fishing lures, Lionel and HO scale trains. He enjoyed coaching YAFL, playing softball, skiing, racquetball, golf, and fly fishing. Bill was a longtime supporter of Lobo athletics. His hobbies included playing guitar, genealogy, fly tying, and crocheting. Never losing his love for working with beautiful hardwoods, in recent years he laminated and turned many stunning bowls and carved wooden spoons.

Bill happily spent many hours doing jigsaw puzzles and playing bingo with his mother before she passed in October. The Zoucha family loved vacations traveling the country in their old Winnebago visiting National Parks, historical sites, and amusement parks riding roller coasters. After retiring he and Margi enjoyed several international cruises.

Father, friend, brother, Grampy, uncle, cousin, neighbor, and husband - you are deeply missed!