Shaphren, William - 1926-2012

SHAPHREN

Posted By: Polk Volunteer
Date: 8/21/2024 at 15:15:01

William Shaphren passed away peacefully in Oakmont near Santa Rosa, CA on September 26, 2012. Bill was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1926, graduated from East High, and served in the US Army in Europe at the end of WWII. He returned to the US with the idea to move west, and graduated from Arizona State University before moving to southern California.
Bill met and married his sweetheart, Margaret, in Los Angeles in 1954. As a business consultant, he became known as the "King of Closeouts" while helping hundreds of small business owners retire successfully. He later went on to write the premiere do-it-yourself manual, "How to Run Your Own Blockbuster Sellout." In the 1970s, together with a close friend, Bill was instrumental in turning the home answering machine into a household necessity, eventually taking Phone-Mate public while battling the phone company monopoly in the years before deregulation.
Bill and Margaret retired to "wine country" and cherish the many friendships they have made in and around Oakmont. Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret, two sons, Todd and Brent, their spouses, and 4 grandchildren. A memorial with friends at the home is planned.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Sunday, October 7, 2012, page 7B