Willard “Bill” Daniel Goering
We are assembled here today to honor and to pay our respects to our good friend and relative, Bill Goering.
Willard Daniel Goering was born on February 23, 1920 to John B. and Jesse Schrag Goering at Moundridge, KS, the fifth of sixteen children.
He received his early educational training at the Peaceful Elementary School and his freshman year of High School in Moundridge, KS; after which the family moved to Canton where he graduated from High School in 1940. His interests at that time were football, cars, and girls.
Following his High School days Bill joined the Army Air Corps and was involved in the European theater of World War II for three years plus. In due course of time he was discharged as a corporal.
He later attended for two years a vocational school in electronics in Okmulgee, OK.
Bill’s life work was associated with the aircraft industry, working with the Boeing Company from 1952 to 1982. That work included experimental, in sheet metal, on the flight line, and in final assembly. Bill spent his last few years at Boeing in the tooling area. Due to health problems he took early retirement.
On August 31, 1952 he married Alice Lucille White in the Federated Church at Mount Hope, KS.
Bill and Alice made their home in the Newton, Wichita, and Haysville areas; except for a three year assignment in Rapid City, South Dakota for the Boeing Company.
Bill was reared in the Mennonite faith, but later transferred his church membership to the Saint Marks Presbyterian Church of Haysville.
He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and earlier was active with the International Association of Machinists. He was also a member of the Boeing Retirees Association.
To Bill and Alice was born one son, William Louis, who now resides in Nesbit, Mississippi. They also have two grandchildren, Billy James and Michael Brandon.
Bill especially enjoyed gardening and the fellowship of family activities; as well as travel. He had a fond memory of his mother signing the hymn entitled “His Eye is on the Sparrow”.
Bill passed away at his home on April 16, 1994.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Alvin.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; one son, William; two grandsons, Billy J. and Michael B. He is also survived by ten brothers and four sisters. His brothers; Walter of Worth, IL, Daniel of Shawnee Mission, KS, Herbert, Arthur, Leonard, and Ralph all of Newton, KS, John of Gresham, OR, James of Dayton, VA, Harry of Aurora, CO, and Larry of Ayden, NC. His sisters are: Elva Goering of Pretty Prairie, KS, Frieda Regier of Elbing, KS, Martha Sundgren of Englewood, CO, Jessie (Joan) Epp of Thornton, CO. A host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
A memorial has been established with the Disabled American Veterans and the Kansas Humane Society of Wichita.