1932
William
2014
William E. Willoughby
July 1, 1932 — September 29, 2014
Dr. William E. Willoughby
July 1, 1932 – September 29, 2014
Funeral Services for William E. Willoughby were held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Lander, Wyoming.
Born the 1st of July, 1932 to Andrew Harvey Willoughby and Edna Earl (Pennington) Willoughby, William Emory Willoughby was given his first name by his father because "if it comes on the first of the month, it must be a bill." Bill grew up in Tennessee, the second youngest of five brothers, helping on the family's dairy farm and attending high school in Mt. Juliet before entering Vanderbilt University where he studied English Literature after which he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. After graduating from dental school, as an officer in the Merchant Marines, he completed an oral surgery residency in the Merchant Marine Hospital in New Orleans. Following his residency, he transferred to Poplar, Montana, working with the newly formed Public Health Service on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. He finished his service in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, after which he opened his private dental practice in Lander in June of 1958. In 1974 he was appointed the director of dental health for the state of Wyoming by then Governor Stan Hathaway, a position which he held until retirement.
Bill loved Wyoming. He was an avid Cowboys fan since his first time at a Cowboys football game while still living in Montana, was a past shooter and president of the One Shot Antelope Hunt, and an enthusiastic outdoorsman, enjoying skiing, hunting, and fishing.Having a passion for the history of dentistry in the state he devoted countless hours collecting and researching artifacts for the Wyoming Dental Historical Association.In retirement he exercised his green thumb and knack for carpentry, growing an impressive garden each season including a variety of fruits and berries and remodeling three houses as well as building a garage and later a horse stable, keeping busy with one project after another until his death.
In both his professional and personal capacities, Bill proved a kind and exceedingly capable man whose patience and work ethic were surpassed only by his generosity. Whether in treating his patients, running the Wyoming Cleft Palate program, or in his devotion to his community, friends, and family, he lived by his compassion and self-determination. One of his oft-repeated sayings was that, "in this world there are builder-uppers and tearer-downers," and Bill Willoughby spent his life building projects and people up.
A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, he died in a fall September 29, 2014 at 82 years of age. He is survived by his wife Jeanette of 61 years, his son Bill, daughter Julia and son-in-law James Massman, grandson Gregory Gilmer and granddaughter Lillian Clark and her husband Erik Clark.
Please sign online guestbook at www.HudsonsFuneralHome.com
Funeral Home:
Hudson's Funeral Home
680 Mount Hope Drive
Lander, WY
US 82520
July 1, 1932 – September 29, 2014
Funeral Services for William E. Willoughby were held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Lander, Wyoming.
Born the 1st of July, 1932 to Andrew Harvey Willoughby and Edna Earl (Pennington) Willoughby, William Emory Willoughby was given his first name by his father because "if it comes on the first of the month, it must be a bill." Bill grew up in Tennessee, the second youngest of five brothers, helping on the family's dairy farm and attending high school in Mt. Juliet before entering Vanderbilt University where he studied English Literature after which he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. After graduating from dental school, as an officer in the Merchant Marines, he completed an oral surgery residency in the Merchant Marine Hospital in New Orleans. Following his residency, he transferred to Poplar, Montana, working with the newly formed Public Health Service on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. He finished his service in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, after which he opened his private dental practice in Lander in June of 1958. In 1974 he was appointed the director of dental health for the state of Wyoming by then Governor Stan Hathaway, a position which he held until retirement.
Bill loved Wyoming. He was an avid Cowboys fan since his first time at a Cowboys football game while still living in Montana, was a past shooter and president of the One Shot Antelope Hunt, and an enthusiastic outdoorsman, enjoying skiing, hunting, and fishing.Having a passion for the history of dentistry in the state he devoted countless hours collecting and researching artifacts for the Wyoming Dental Historical Association.In retirement he exercised his green thumb and knack for carpentry, growing an impressive garden each season including a variety of fruits and berries and remodeling three houses as well as building a garage and later a horse stable, keeping busy with one project after another until his death.
In both his professional and personal capacities, Bill proved a kind and exceedingly capable man whose patience and work ethic were surpassed only by his generosity. Whether in treating his patients, running the Wyoming Cleft Palate program, or in his devotion to his community, friends, and family, he lived by his compassion and self-determination. One of his oft-repeated sayings was that, "in this world there are builder-uppers and tearer-downers," and Bill Willoughby spent his life building projects and people up.
A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, he died in a fall September 29, 2014 at 82 years of age. He is survived by his wife Jeanette of 61 years, his son Bill, daughter Julia and son-in-law James Massman, grandson Gregory Gilmer and granddaughter Lillian Clark and her husband Erik Clark.
Please sign online guestbook at www.HudsonsFuneralHome.com
Funeral Home:
Hudson's Funeral Home
680 Mount Hope Drive
Lander, WY
US 82520
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William E. Willoughby, please visit our flower store.
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