William Douglas, Jr.
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Graveside inurnment services for William H. Douglas, Jr., 87, Lawrence, KS will be on Tuesday, May 22 at 10:00am at Pioneer Cemetery on the West Campus of KU. He died on Friday, May 18, 2012 at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.
He was born on April 23, 1925 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the son of William H. Sr. and Florence Leland Douglas. He and his family moved to Lawrence from Topeka, KS in 1969.
Dr. Douglas was a retired professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Kansas. He joined the faculty in 1968 and retired in 1994.
He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of KS. He received an M.S. degree from Stanford University and his PhD from the University of Missouri.
Dr. Douglas was an Elder and on the Board of Deacons of the First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, a member of the Lawrence Civic Choir and the KU Retirees Club, and a Life Member of the KU Alumni Association. He was also a member of Phi Gamma Delta , Sigma Tau and Tau Beta Pi Fraternities, and a past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers-Kansas Section. Bill’s passions in life included many aspects of music including playing the piano and organ and singing in various choirs as well as snow skiing. He shared these passions with his family and friends.
He married JoAnn Everett on October 16, 1953 in Topeka, KS. She preceded him in death on May 14, 2001.
Survivors include two sons, William H. Douglas III (Patricia Pierce), of Eagle, CO, Bruce E. Douglas, of Lawrence; two daughters, Margaret Douglas (Linda Mikulich), of Sugar Creek, MO, Nancy Douglas Wallace (John Wallace), of Kingwood, TX, a granddaughter, Katheryn Wallace, of Tuscaloosa, AL; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William H. Sr. and Florence Leland Douglas,¬¬ and stepmother, Lenora Schroyer Douglas.
The family suggests memorials in his name to the KU Endowment Association and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
i will sure miss bill
he always has a smile when i ask him bout something he just lite up a room
always like his diet coke
so sometimes i make it special for him and give him cherry dite coke
god bless robyn
Bill,
Krin and I think of you often, and now especially at this time. Our condolences to you and your family. Your dad was always a great guy to chat with.
Bill will be missed. He is at peace and his memory will live on in the minds and hearts of all those who loved him. May the promise of a resurrection and life eternal bring you peace. “I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me even though he dies, will come to life.” John 11:21-26. Psalms 83:18. You are in the thoughts and prayers of many.
Our deepest condolences to Bruce, Bill, Margaret and Nancy. Bill participated in Retirement Club theatricals with Jane’s parents, Jim and Polly Reed, and lived across the hall from Polly last summer. I would see a big smile on Bill’s face as he watched Bruce sing. Having just lost Polly, we know how hard the loss of a parent can be. Our thoughts are with you all as you remember your parents and move on as a family. Many blessings on you all, Jane and Joseph
My sincere condolences to you Bruce, and the entire Douglas family. I’m so sorry for your loss. You will all be in my prayers for comfort and peace.
With sadness,
Colleen
I remember so many wonderful things about Bill. Especially his laugh, piano playing, and the kadota figs he ate, which I had never heard of before! What a wonderful legacy he left for his family. Thinking of each one of you and especially Nancy as you adjust to this loss.
Dear Bill III, Bruce, Margaret,Nancy and Family: We share a small part of your loss but we do remember the special man who was a pleasure to know and work with. Of course, he and JoAnn were a great team. You are a lovely family with a great heritage. Keep in touch with each other, building on that special Douglas legacy. In Christ, Carl and Joyce Burkhead.
I was with him a lot in grade school at Lowman Hill in Topeka. His birthplace, Addis Ababa, was so unusual; mine, Providence, RI, seemed ordinary after his. Reconnected with him in KU Retirees and enjoyed the time with him and JoAnn. He is now at peace. My wife and I send our deepest condolences to the family.
Dear Billy, Bruce, Margaret and Nancy,
I’m so sorry about your dad. I remember most fondly of Bill helping my family celebrate my parents’ 20th anniversary when he played piano for me as I taped their wedding song, “Think On Me”. He played a mean piano.
My thoughts are with you.
Love,
Judi Gitel
Stan and I were so sorry to miss the graveside service this morning. We are having some work done at our home and were unable to leave. I did think of Bill and of you all at 10:00. I can still see Bill playing the piano at department gatherings. He was so talented! And your mom was so important to my adjusting to Lawrence when we first arrived. Phyllis
We continue to keep Bruce and his family in our thoughts and prayers. We did not have the privilege to know Bill, but getting to know part of his family we know he had to be a special man to have such wonderful children.
We continue to keep Bruce and his family in our thoughts and prayers. We did not have the privilege to know Bill, but getting to know part of his family we know he had to be a special man to have such wonderful children.