William Bill Randolph Derr (86), of Pensacola, Fla., went to be with our Lord on January8, 2022. Bill was born on September 29, 1935, in Paterson, New Jersey to Eugene Kies Derr andLema Florence Derr, nee PopeBill spent the first six years of his life around family and friends in New Jersey and then movedto the Canal Zone, Panama where his father worked in various capacities on the Panama CanalAs a youth, Bill was active in many activities including the Boy Scouts, where he obtained therank of Life Scout and DeMolay, an international fraternal organization for young menBill graduated from Balboa High School in 1953 where he was the Battalion Commander for hisHigh School ROTC. In his Senior Yearbook it is written, Under the leadership of CommandingOfficer, Cadet Lt. Col. William Derr, the Balboa ROTC Battalion had one of its most successfulyears.After high school Bill returned to the United States to begin college at The Citadel, The MilitaryCollege of South Carolina, located in Charleston. His activities while attending The Citadelincluded the Calliopean Literary Society, a literary and debating society, whose motto SapereAude, Latin for Dare to be wise set the stage for his love of lifelong learning. Other pastimesduring school included the Baptist Student League, Intramural Sports, and Varsity WrestlingIn 1957 Bill graduated with his bachelor’s in commerce and entered active duty in the UnitedStates Army where he was commissioned as a 2LT in the Ordnance Corps stationed at variousposts in Germany. Over time Bill would transition to the Armor Corps for a short period of timeand ultimately to Military Intelligence where he spent the preponderance of his careerWhile stationed in Germany, Bill met Albina Abby Gurnee Derr, nee Beggs. They married onApril 30, 1960, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and over the next 22 years raised three children Karen, Randy, and KeithIn the Army, Bill had the opportunity to travel the world and spent time in Michigan; Maryland;two tours in the Republic of Vietnam; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort’s Amador and Kobbe in Panama;Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; and Camp Red Cloud in the Republic ofKoreaBill’s terminal assignment was Fort Huachuca, Arizona as the Deputy Post Commander. Heretired from the United States Army in 1982 holding the rank of Lieutenant ColonelHis awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal x 3, theMeritorious Service Medal x 2, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army CommendationMedal x 2, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal amongst othersAdditionally, while on active duty, Bill completed two master’s degrees: Public Administrationfrom Golden Gate University and a Master of Arts from the University of Northern ColoradoOn his birthday in 1984 Bill married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Derr, nee Robison, in thehome of dear friends in Bisbee, Arizona. From this union, he gained two more wonderfulchildren Claudia and SidBill went on to attend the University of Arizona where he completed his Doctor of Philosophydegree with a major in Communication in 1986. His dissertation, entitled Oral CommunicationApprehension: Some Considerations of the Trait-Like and Situational Conditions on Jury Veniresand Deliberating Trial Juries was dedicated to his father, mother, and wifeI have drawn strength from each of these three and they have given themselveswithout reservation to me, many times without my thanks. My father, an accomplishedand recognized Civil Engineer, was both a technician and an artist. He instilled in me asense of practicality and an appreciation for beauty. My mother provided me with anunderstanding of the propriety of accomplishing a worthwhile task once begun and asense of inner quietness from which one might draw personal strength. My wife, agracious and charming Southern Lady, showed me how to accept a state of beingwithout angst of becoming. For this, I thank you, PAL.After graduating, Bill began his second career working for several organizations in both businessand academia. During this time, Mary Elizabeth and Bill lived in Texas, Florida, and Mexico City,Mexico. The couple returned to Pensacola, Florida to officially retire. During his retirementyears, Bill was active as a volunteer with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and as a memberand teacher at Warrington Church of ChristBill is survived by his children Claudia Bayne of Pensacola, FL; Sid and Lorrie Farish ofPensacola, FL; Karen Marie Derr of Phoenix, AZ; Randy and Bambi Derr of Chino Valley, AZ; andKeith Derr of Tempe, AZ. He was blessed with 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren Tiffanie (Wright) and Patrick Toms with son Oden of Tucson, AZ; Claire (Farish) and DanBrimmer with children Thomas and Edward of Pensacola, FL; Sidney (Farish) and Chay Pollerwith children Jude, Luca and Beckett of Pensacola, FL; Patrick Prendergast of Azalea, OR;Desiree (Derr) and Taylor Priest of Chattanooga, TN; Tyler Derr of Tempe, AZ; and SpecialistKayci Derr of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He is also survived by nieces, nephews and many, manyfriendsHe was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Kies Derr (1971); his mother, Lema FlorenceDerr (1987); Albina Gurnee Derr (2012); and his wife of 36 years, Mary Elizabeth Derr (2020)Throughout his life, Bill was willing to take on exceptional challenges that led to exceptionalresults. His life is an example to anyone who took the opportunity to know and appreciate thishumble intellectual. Over 86 years, he was known as Bill, Billie, William, Cadet, LieutenantColonel or Doctor, but we, his family, simply knew him as Dad, Grandpa Bill, or Great-GrandpaRegardless of what anyone individually called him, he will be greatly missed by allThe family will gather privately for Bill’s internment on Friday, March 18, 2022, at BarrancasNational Cemetery Naval Air Station Pensacola where he will join his wife, Mary Elizabeth. OnSaturday, March 19, 2022, friends may join Bill’s family at a memorial service, with full militaryhonors, at Waters & Hibbert Funeral Home located at 124 West Gregory Street in Pensacola, FLPre-service visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 A.M. The memorial service willbegin at 11:00 A.MIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 NRandolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203 or Warrington Church of Christ, 403 N. NavyBlvd, Pensacola, FL 32507WATERS & HIBBERT FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.
Posted in: pbinfo.com
Posted on: 2022-01-26
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