William George Loomis 
M, #10041, b. Sep 8, 1917, d. Jun 1, 2008
| Charts | Loomis Descendants Chart |
| Father* | George Grandison Loomis b. Jul 7, 1889, d. Apr 1, 1972 |
| Mother* | Vera Marguerite Colson b. Feb 22, 1894, d. Sep 18, 1976 |
Family | Louise Antona Davidson Moncur b. Nov 14, 1914, d. Sep 3, 2003 | |
Chronological Events | ||
| Birth* | Sep 8, 1917 | William George Loomis was born on Sep 8, 1917 at Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, United States . |
| He was the son of George Grandison Loomis and Vera Marguerite Colson. | ||
| Marriage* | Feb 8, 1946 | William George Loomis married Louise Antona Davidson Moncur on Feb 8, 1946 at Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon, United States. |
| Death* | Jun 1, 2008 | William George Loomis died on Jun 1, 2008, at age 90 at Salem, Marion County, Oregon, United States.1,2 |
| Obituary | Jun 2, 2008 | OBITUARY: SALEM – William George “Bill” Loomis, long time state educator and area resident died June 1, 2008 at age 90. Bill was the son of George and Vera Loomis. A sawmill accident at age 22 in his hometown of Roseburg caused Bill to give up his plans for a carpentry career. While Bill was in workers’ compensation retraining, his trainer recognized Bill’s untapped potential, and brought Bill into Oregon’s effort in wartime training of trainers in the Portland area shipyards. Over the next 40 years Bill’s career included three years at the Oregon Department of Vocational Education and thirty-six years in the Oregon Department of Education, in increasingly responsible positions, including Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction. Bill earned three degrees from Oregon State College/University, culminating with his Doctorate in Education in 1964. Bill also spent 15 months in 1969-70 in the U.S. Office of Education in an administrative position. A fierce proponent of vocational and professional education, he was instrumental in creating Oregon’s community colleges, writing the state legislation for same, preparing state budgets and (accurately) projecting enrollment growth for the next decade. In 1981 the Oregon Community College Association awarded him its “Wagonmaster” award for the role he played in starting the community college movement in Oregon. Bill also received awards from the American Vocational Association, Oregon State Board of Education and Oregon Vocational Association during his long career for his local and national leadership in education. He never lost the drive to help others find appropriate careers. Invariably, when meeting young people, within a few minutes he would have sidled up to the topic of their career goals. This gracious gentleman truly cared about people. A calm, deliberate person, Bill’s one impetuous act involved a young lady he met at a dance in 1946 in Albany named Louise Moncur. Thirteen days after meeting, Bill and Louise married, traveling to Agate Beach for their modest honeymoon. Despite their respective families’ considerable misgivings, Bill and Louise managed to make a “go” of it, and their happy marriage lasted 57 years until Louise’s death in 2003. They produced two daughters, Beverly and Linda. Bill and Louise were members of the First Church of the Nazarene. After retirement in 1982 Bill volunteered for state and local Retiree Educators Associations, United Seniors, Master Gardeners, City of Keizer and was a State Long Term Care Ombudsman. He was instrumental in organizing the Reed-Hill Cemetery Association, which is a family pioneer cemetery in Wilbur, Oregon. In addition, Bill spent many hours with his four younger brothers and extended family, fishing on the Umpqua River and at Diamond Lake, and playing cards. Alsways a devoted family man, Bill stayed close to his parents, brothers, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren throughout his long life. His research into the family genealogy helped him track down additional distant cousins with whom he kept in contact thereafter. Survivors include his daughter, Beverly Street and husband Ron of Laguna Niguel, California; daughter, Linda and husband Ed, of Salem, Oregon; brother, Donald (Don) and wife Joan, of Eugene; sister-in-law Aileen of Lake Oswego; sister-in-law, Patricia (Pat), of Petaluma, California; 10 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents as well as his brothers, James (Jim), Ralph and John (Jack). Our thanks to Meadow Creek Village Assisted Living Center staff, who have been so kind to Dad over the last 15 months, Odyssey Health Care Hospice staff, and to Marilyn Srink of Revera Concierge and Home Service who stayed with him through his final night. We would also like to thank the staff at all the restaurants we have visited with Dad over the last few years, especially Old Europe Inn, Geppetto’s, Macedonia, Kwan’s, Kim Huong and Shari’s of Keizer. Dad so enjoyed your great food and friendship. A family service will be held at a date to be determined. Contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to Chemeketa Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 14007, Salem, Oregon 97309. Arrangements are through Virgil T. Golden’s Funeral Service. Published in the Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon - June 9, 2008.3 |
| Burial* | Jun 3, 2008 | He was buried on Jun 3, 2008 at Reed-Hill Pioneer Cemetery, Wilbur, Douglas County, Oregon, United States, Find A Grave Memorial# 8692215.4 |