William Fuqua

William Taylor Fuqua Bill died peacefully at home with his family on April 18, 2010 after a 7week battle with cancer. He was born the second of five brothers in Caney, Kansas on August 6, 1924. He attended Caney High School where he played trombone in the band and led the rooting section at Bullpups football games. After graduation Bill attended Coffeyville Junior College and then started work as an aviation welder. In 1942 he volunteered for the draft to be able to serve as a Navy pilot. The Navy had other plans though, and Bill was soon trained as a medic and assigned to a Marine battalion which eventually participated in the battle of Iwo Jima. Bill and a Sergeant were the only two of their company of over 200 men to walk away from the battle. After his unit was rebuilt with fresh troops, they prepared for the invasion of Japan. The Hiroshima blast occurred on his 21st birthday, and then 2 weeks later his unit participated in the Marine landing in Sasebo Harbor close to Nagasaki where the second blast occurred. Radiation there was so strong that it exposed all the film brought by the photographers. By then the Emperor had called off hostilities and their forces met no resistance. Having completed enough points Bill was sent back home, but was almost lost again in a typhoon which claimed two of the three ships in his convoy. On return from the war Bill got back into the aviation industry which led to him pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at KU. On February 11, 1951 he married Violet Louisa Lou Pering at the First Baptist Church of Caney. After some time in Wichita and Lawrence, Bill accepted a position at Northrop Aircraft in Hawthorne, California 1955. They bought a home in Torrance, California where they finally settled. Bill worked for other companies, including Hughes Aircraft and McDonnell Douglas where he was a top engineer for the first DC10 passenger jets. From school days Bill always loved to sing. Bill, along with his four brothers AR, Don, Ralph, and Norman, formed a quintet or often had at least a quartet to sing at church. He was known for his exceptional bass voice and the solos he would sing. At times he led the church choir, and was often the lead of the bass section. He was an active member of every church he was involved with throughout his lifetime which included the First Baptist Church of Caney, his church in Wichita, where he was ordained a deacon the Del Aire Baptist Church in Hawthorne, California and for the last 43 years at the First Baptist Church of Torrance, California. He was a regular congregational worship leader all his life. Even though he was living in California, his annual trip to Caney always included being a part of the Caney Community Choir and taking part in the Memorial Day Services each year. In late 1993 Bill retired at age 69. Shortly thereafter his wife Lou was diagnosed with cancer. The two of them headed to their lake house in Havana, Kansas where he cared for her until her death in May of 1995. Bill spent the next 15 years back in Torrance, California where he served the Lord in many ways including homeless ministries and The Gideons. Bill will be laid to rest in the Caney Cemetery beside his wife on May 1, 2010. He is survived by his two sons, Ron and Gary, their wives Debbie and Gina, and 6 grandchildren Peter, Billy, Danny, Julie, Emily and Lauren. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Caney, Kansas with the Reverend Dan DeWitt officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunnyside Cemetery under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. Visitation hours will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 30, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Caney, Kansas. The family has suggested memorials to the Gideons Bible and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas.