William Edward Ferguson, 86, of Flagstaff passed away on Monday, June 6, 2011. Funeral services were held June 11 at the United Methodist Church in Holbrook. Interment followed in the Holbrook Cemetery.
Bill Ferguson was born in Holbrook on Dec. 12, 1924. His father was William E. Ferguson Sr. His mother was Lula Ferguson.
He married Betty on Aug. 16, 1946, who shared the journey for 64 years.
He studied in Holbrook, then studied physics and trigonometry in Napa, Calif. He applied and was accepted at Cal-Tech in Pasadena, Calif. Further studies were put on hold by the local draft board. He was assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers. He volunteered to join the U.S. Air Force, which needed crew members, and served as a radio gunner on a B-24. Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, he achieved his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Then he and his wife went to Pittsburgh, Calif., where he started as a mechanical testing engineer at the U.S. Steel Corp. This was followed as materials and process engineer at Lockheed in Burbank, Calif., and then as a metallurgist at U.S. Naval Ordnance in China Lake, Calif. Most of his career was spent in nuclear energy utilizing the methods of metallography. He was on the staff at Los Alamos scientific laboratory in New Mexico for 10 years. Then he moved to Richland, Wash., for 25 years, retiring from Siemens Nuclear in 1990 and returning to Arizona. They were wonderful years with many fascinating projects, and the opportunity for cherished friendships. His career gave him the chance to pursue a lifelong interest in photography in many wonderful and varied places in our beautiful American West.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Betty Ferguson; daughter, Bonnie Griffin (Ronald); granddaughter, Mary Griffin; two stepgrandchildren Niki Griffin, and Keith Griffin; and many nieces, nephews and good friends.
Norvel Owens Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.
