William W. Stevens of Springfield, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. He was 89 years old.
He was born June 7, 1920, in Neosho, Missouri, to Mary Leah Stevens and William Walter Stevens Sr.
He attended Neosho High School, earned his bachelor of science degree in geology in 1942 from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and his master’s in geology in 1948 from the University of Oklahoma.
William served in the U.S. Air Force from Nov. 29, 1943, until March 21, 1946. During that time, he earned a certificate from the Air Force School of Air Traffic Control in Flushing, Long Island, New York, in 1944. He earned a Certificate of Meteorology from the U.S. Air Force School of Meteorology, University of Los Angeles in 1943.
From 1948 until 1957, he worked as assistant district geologist for Magnolia Petroleum Company. He was the chief geologist for Franco Central Oil Company from 1957 to 1959.
In 1959, he became a consulting petroleum geologist and from 1966 to 1987, he was the associate director of development for the University of Missouri-Rolla.
He attended Brentwood Christian Church and was a member of RSVP, the Elks Lodge, Crosslines, Sigma Chi (treasurer), and the Springfield Dance Club (treasurer).
He earned the Order of Constantine award from the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Along with his other activities, he enjoyed reading.
He married Martha Mathers Stevens on Sept. 22, 1950, in Mt. Vernon, Ill. She preceded him in death, as did his parents and a brother, Reece Alm.
He is survived by a daughter and her husband, Lisa and Curt Westrich; his grandchildren, Katelyn Ann and Rebekah Marie Westrich; two sisters, Margaret Bussell and husband Leland and Mary Gilliatt; several nieces and nephews, Dianne McCormich, Janet Bussell, Karen Bussell-Longabardi, Beth Keane, and Laurie Wagner; cousins Kathleen Buckner and Elaine Denning; and close friend Lucy Pegg.
Funeral is at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, at Brentwood Christian Church. A graveside service is at 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Ozark Hills Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at Greenlawn East Funeral Home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn East Funeral Home.