Bill Gates’ Father Passes On At 94

William Henry Gates II, the father ofMicrosoft co-founderBill Gates, has died at the age of 94.

Writing on his official blog,Bill Gates penned the following words, “We have all had a long time to reflect on just how lucky we are to have had this amazing man in our lives for so many years.”

William Henry Gates II was born on November 30, 1925, and was an army veteran and a founding partner in a Seattle law firm.

He graduated from Bremerton High School and served in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II.

The official family statement doesn’t reveal the cause of death but says that William Gates had seen his health decline steadily.

Speaking further on the loss, Bill Gates said:

"The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would not be what it is today without my dad. People used to ask my dad if he was the real Bill Gates," the tech magnate wrote. "The truth is, he was everything I try to be."