William Richard Day, birthday March 30, 1931 in Evanston, Illinois and Resurrection Date August 15, 2022, age 91. 

Bill was predeceased by his precious wife, Mamie and survived by his four children: Susan April Day, Cynthia Elizabeth Day, Sandra Lynn Day-Morgan, and Melinda Elise Day; grandchildren: Melissa Morgan, Erin (Christopher) Brown, and Kelsey Martin; and great-grandchildren: Veda, Zoey, Luna, and Norah Brown.  

Bill was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. In 1951, Bill and Mamie met at a St Patrick’s Day dance held at the Noncommissioned Officer’s (NCO) Club at Andrews Airforce Base in Washington, D.C. They quickly fell in love and were married five months later on August 19, 1951. Married for over 60 years, they had four daughters, three granddaughters and four great-granddaughters. Yes, Bill admitted to sometimes feeling outnumbered at family get-togethers. 

Bill earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Looking back, he fondly attributed successful completion of his college degree, not simply to the GI Bill, but perhaps more fundamentally, to all the wonderful desserts Mamie baked and lab reports she typed. Indeed, Mamie held a full-time secretarial job on campus and gave birth to their first child, Susan April, all in the setting of campus housing. After graduation, Bill accepted employment with Martin-Marietta as an electrical engineer in Florida. In 1967 he transferred the family to League City, Texas, in order to work for the division of Lockheed-Martin at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas. At NASA, Bill joined the Cosmic Rays Group, a team which played a role in the Moon landing on July 20, 1969. He was always passionate about the success of the Apollo missions, as well as NASA’s subsequent space endeavors. After 12 years of employment with Lockheed-Martin at NASA, Bill began work at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston as a Nuclear Systems Engineer, in the Nuclear Medicine Department. At age 65, he retired.

A devoted husband and father who dearly loved the Lord, Bill was an active member of The Gideons International, which places & distributes Bibles & New Testaments around the world. Since his salvation as a Christian in 1967, he was an active member in his church, serving wherever he was needed. Bill had a passion for international travel with his family, experiencing life through meeting others in distant lands. He always generously used his time, talents and money to help those in need. He never met a stranger and was loved by many. Certainly, Bill will live in our hearts forever. 

One of his favorite scriptures was John 3:16,  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

A memorial visitation will be Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 10:00 am with at 10:30 service. Followed by a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. for those who would like to attend.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that if anyone feels moved to do so, donations will be gratefully accepted by Gideon International Bible. Please go to gideons.org to donate. You may also speak to anyone in the Church office for assistance in donating.