"It's with great sadness that we announce the passing of William "Bill" Zerby on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Above all, Bill loved the Lord with all of his heart. He was a faithful servant of Jesus and a longtime member of the Iris Road Christian Church (formerly CrossPointe Christian Church).

Bill was born in Dearborn, Michigan, raised in Michigan, attended Michigan Tech University majoring in Electrical Engineering and Electromechanics. He moved to Albuquerque in 1982 and began his career at Phillips Semiconductors. In 2004 his time at Phillips ended and he began to pursue his true passion, fulltime woodturning. He then became the manager of the Woodcraft Store and taught many classes there as well as at Santa Fe Community College and many private students in his home shop.

Bill was a co-founder of the New Mexico Woodturners Association where he was well known and respected in this specialty area of woodworking and sharpening. Woodturning and woodwork of any kind was truly his craft. A self-taught master craftsman, woodturner, and master tool sharpener, Bill specialized in crafting the most intricate and precise wood pieces. His precision work is widely recognized all around New Mexico in custom homes, hotels, and most prominently displayed in front of the Isotopes Park, are the 10-foot-tall baseball bats he designed and turned for the final touch on the facade of the stadium.

He will be fondly remembered as a lifelong, "Chronic Learner" as he would read hundreds and hundreds of books every year. Bill was always in search of learning new things and fine tuning his skills in every area of life. Bill was greatly loved and will forever remain in our hearts.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Doris Zerby and by his brother, Kenneth Zerby.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 42 years, Ann Zerby of Rio Rancho; children, Ben Zerby and wife Julie of Albuquerque and Rachel Zerby Grindatto and husband Lucas of Rio Rancho; four grandchildren, Daniel, Leila, Hudson and Eleanor; sister, Linda Zerby of Redford Township, MI; sister-in-law, Diane Zerby of Mesa, Arizona; several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of many friends who will miss him.

The celebration of life services will be held at Heights Christian Church, 6935 Comanche Rd. NE. ABQ. 87110, on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 10:00 am followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

If desired, donations may be made to a GoFundMe page started by Ben and Rachel to help with Bill's final medical expenses, at the link below:

https://gofund.me/01c191e83