WILLIAM ELWOOD GEHRET JR. was born in Camden, New Jersey on December 6, 1943 to William Gehret and his wife Bernice. The Gehret family had lived in Cramer Hill since the late 1890s, when grandfather Irvin Gehret came to what was then the Town of Stockton. The family lived at 1119 Main Street when the Census was taken in 1900; this street was renamed North 26th Street shortly afterwards. William Gehret Sr. was born around 1906. The Gehret family had moved to 2731 Tyler Avenue by 1910.

William Gehret Jr. and his parents were living at 1028 North 27th Street when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled. By 1956 they had moved next door, to 1026 North 27th Street. William Gehret Jr. attended school through the 10th grade, and had secured a job of some sort with the City of Camden beginning June 4, 1963.

On June 29, 1965 William Gehret Jr. was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He reported to duty  the same day. He was living at 19 North 36th Street in East Camden at the time of his appointment. By 1969 he moved back to 1026 North 27th Street in Cramer Hill. His father had passed and his mother then lived at 2818 Pierce Avenue. When residency restrictions for Camden employees were relaxed in the early 1970s, William Gehret Jr. moved to the suburbs. 

After 20 years service with the Camden Fire Department William Gehret Jr. retired on pension on July 1, 1985. He was living in Ship Bottom, New Jersey at the time of his passing, July 14, 1999. William Gehret Jr. was survived by his four children and his ex-wife.