William “Bill” W. Votaw, 86, of Emporia, Kansas, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2012 at Newman Regional Health, Emporia.
Bill was born on April 23, 1926 in Wellfleet, Nebraska, the son of Walter and Ethel Johnson Votaw. He married Janice Rice on August 11, 1957 in North Platte, Nebraska, they divorced, and he later married Roma Ury on May 12, 1979 in North Platte. Roma passed away on July 14, 2001.
After receiving basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as an electrical lineman from January 12, 1951, until a family hardship discharge on April 15, 1952. He was proud of his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying small planes. He farmed and worked as a contract carrier of mobile homes in Arcadia, Nebraska. He was a Coast to Coast hardware store owner in Norfolk, Nebraska, with his first wife, Jan.
Upon moving to North Platte, Bill enjoyed memberships with the VFW and American Legion. He worked as a copier repairman at Midwest Office Supply Store. He was employed by the Union Pacific Rail Road as an electrician. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1920.
He later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and operated a home copier repair and sales business with his second wife, Roma. He was a member of Warm Springs Baptist Church and enjoyed the BYKOTA bible study group.
Bill enjoyed boating, loved cultivating roses, assisted family with home projects, enjoyed classical music, theatre and musicals. He moved to Emporia and became a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed excursions to local and area attractions. Bill moved to Holiday Resort and enjoyed the aviary, aquariums, activities, and greeting residents and staff.
He is survived by: three sons, Stuart Votaw and Rod Ury both of North Platte, Nebraska, and Michael Ury of Valley, Nebraska; four daughters, Ruth Smith of Emporia, Carol Crosier of North Platte, Paula Thompson of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Pamela Schmidt of Lincoln, Nebraska; three grandchildren, Amy Kreider Thompson, Christopher Smith, and Sarah Smith; and one great-granddaughter, Annabelle Kreider.
Bill was preceded in death by both wives, Janice Rice Votaw and Roma Ury Votaw.
Mr. Votaw was cremated. Burial will be in Kansas Veterans Cemetery of Ft. Riley on Friday, October 26, 2012, with military honors by the Ft. Riley honors unit. Memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior project, Ft. Riley, may be sent in care of the funeral home.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, November 9, 2012 at Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church, 203 West 4th. Street, North Platte, Nebraska. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" W. Votaw, please visit our flower store.
Bill was born on April 23, 1926 in Wellfleet, Nebraska, the son of Walter and Ethel Johnson Votaw. He married Janice Rice on August 11, 1957 in North Platte, Nebraska, they divorced, and he later married Roma Ury on May 12, 1979 in North Platte. Roma passed away on July 14, 2001.
After receiving basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as an electrical lineman from January 12, 1951, until a family hardship discharge on April 15, 1952. He was proud of his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying small planes. He farmed and worked as a contract carrier of mobile homes in Arcadia, Nebraska. He was a Coast to Coast hardware store owner in Norfolk, Nebraska, with his first wife, Jan.
Upon moving to North Platte, Bill enjoyed memberships with the VFW and American Legion. He worked as a copier repairman at Midwest Office Supply Store. He was employed by the Union Pacific Rail Road as an electrician. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1920.
He later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and operated a home copier repair and sales business with his second wife, Roma. He was a member of Warm Springs Baptist Church and enjoyed the BYKOTA bible study group.
Bill enjoyed boating, loved cultivating roses, assisted family with home projects, enjoyed classical music, theatre and musicals. He moved to Emporia and became a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed excursions to local and area attractions. Bill moved to Holiday Resort and enjoyed the aviary, aquariums, activities, and greeting residents and staff.
He is survived by: three sons, Stuart Votaw and Rod Ury both of North Platte, Nebraska, and Michael Ury of Valley, Nebraska; four daughters, Ruth Smith of Emporia, Carol Crosier of North Platte, Paula Thompson of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Pamela Schmidt of Lincoln, Nebraska; three grandchildren, Amy Kreider Thompson, Christopher Smith, and Sarah Smith; and one great-granddaughter, Annabelle Kreider.
Bill was preceded in death by both wives, Janice Rice Votaw and Roma Ury Votaw.
Mr. Votaw was cremated. Burial will be in Kansas Veterans Cemetery of Ft. Riley on Friday, October 26, 2012, with military honors by the Ft. Riley honors unit. Memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior project, Ft. Riley, may be sent in care of the funeral home.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, November 9, 2012 at Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church, 203 West 4th. Street, North Platte, Nebraska. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" W. Votaw, please visit our flower store.
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