William Webster

On Wednesday, December 6, 2017, William (Bill) Webster, a previous long time resident of Albuquerque, passed away in Fayetteville, AR at the age of 96.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Katherine (Bea) Webster (January 2004); his parents, James C. and Velma L. Webster; his brother and sister-in-law, Walter A. and Joy Webster; and his youngest son, William (Bill) W. Webster, all of Albuquerque. He is survived by his son, Dr. James L. Webster, and wife, Kathleen, of Fayetteville, AR; his daughter-in-law, Lisa Webster of Albuquerque; his granddaughters, Kerry Herzog and husband, Adam; Rebecca Gayer and husband, Cory, all of Springdale, AR; Amy Hinnerichs and husband, Todd of Albuquerque; grandson, Burke Webster and wife, Stephanie, of Des Moines, IA; and nine great-grandchildren.

Bill was born in Albuquerque in 1921. He attending Central School, 3rd Ward Elementary, Washington Jr. High and Albuquerque High School graduating in 1938. He is a graduate of UNM with a degree in Biology/Chemistry in 1944. He then joined the Marine Corps going to Parris Island, SC, for boot camp and then on to Quantico, VA for OCS and ROS where he served as a 2nd Lt. He then attended Chemical Warfare School in Maryland before joining the 1st Marine Division for occupational duty in China, returned to Albuquerque in 1946, and remained in the Marine Reserve for 14 years, retiring as a Captain. He and Katherine were married in Albuquerque in 1946. He then worked for the USGS as a Chemist both in Albuquerque and Salt Lake City. In 1952 they moved to Los Alamos, NM where he worked as a chemist for the Atomic Energy Commission in Radioactive Waste Disposal. In 1957 they moved to Denton, TX where he worked for the US Civil Preparedness Regional Office, a five state headquarters office, as a Health Physicist until his retirement in 1979. He and Katherine then moved to Santa Fe where he worked for the NM Civil Preparedness Office until 1975 when they moved back to Albuquerque. In 2009, he moved to Fayetteville, AR to be nearer to his remaining son and his family and lived at Butterfield Trail Village, with is a full service retirement community in Fayetteville. Bill was very active in the Albuquerque family, tennis, coin collecting and bridge as a partner with Katherine. He attended University Presbyterian Church while in Albuquerque.

Private Burial Service will be held at Sunset Memorial Park where Bill will be laid to rest next to Katherine and near his son, William W. The Service will include a USMC Color Guard. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice or to a Hospice.