Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Uncle Bill was a joy and inspiration as I was growing up in the 1960s. As kids we were always thrilled to have his children (Joe, Debbie, and Anne) come to Indiana for a visit. Eventually we also learned that Uncle Bill worked at NASA in Houston TX, and worked on the Apollo space program which we were familiar with from watching the Mercury and Gemini launches at school. He knew the Apollo astronauts, and helped to train them and build the systems they would need to go to the Moon
On a visit to their family in Houston (LaPorte, TX,) around 1968 Uncle Bill arranged for us to meet him at the "back fence" at the Johnson Space Center to watch the Apollo 11 astronauts train on the "Flying Bedstead" for lunar landing. We were impressed when "Pedro" - the security helicopter - swooped in to check us out. Uncle Bill scaled the chain link fence and held up his badge to reassure the men in the chopper that we were A-OK. Aunt Marge's comment was "if they don't shoot him I will!". Apparently all was well and we got to watch Mike Collins practice landing the trainer. Only years later as an adult did I realize what a special moment this was. But that was Uncle Bill.
He had so many amazing stories of his time at NASA, and generously shared them with anyone interested. My children were thrilled to see his memorabilia and awards, and hear his memories of the space program.
But they also treasure the time they spent with Aunt Marge and their children: Joe was my daughter's 7th grade choir director, his wife Diana taught at their elementary school, and they visited and played with their Texas cousins growing up. Our family moved around a lot as the girls were growing up, and the years spent living close to Bill, Marge and their family were a special treat that we all enjoyed.
We are honored to have these wonderful memories, and treasure the times we spent with Uncle Bill and his family.
