William “Bill” W. Votaw, 86, of Emporia, Kan., passed away Oct. 14, 2012, at Newman Regional Health, Emporia.
Bill was born on April 23, 1926, in Wellfleet, the son of Walter and Ethel Johnson Votaw. He married Janice Rice on Aug. 11, 1957, in North Platte, they divorced, and he later married Roma Ury on May 12, 1979, in North Platte. Roma passed away on July 14, 2001.
Bill received basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as an electrical lineman from Jan. 12, 1951, until a family hardship discharge on April 15, 1952. He was proud of his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying small planes. He farmed and worked as a contract carrier of mobile homes in Arcadia. He was a Coast-to-Coast hardware store owner in Norfolk, with his first wife, Jan.
After moving to North Platte, Bill enjoyed memberships with the VFW and American Legion. He worked as a copier repairman at Midwest Office Supply Store. He was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad as an electrician. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1920.
He later moved to Las Vegas, Nev., and operated a home copier repair and sales business with his second wife, Roma. He was a member of Warm Springs Baptist Church and enjoyed the BYKOTA Bible study group.
Bill enjoyed boating, loved cultivating roses, and assisted family with home projects, enjoyed classical music, theatre and musicals. He moved to Emporia and became a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed excursions to local and area attractions. Bill moved to Holiday Resort and enjoyed the aviary, aquariums, activities and greeting residents and staff.
Bill is survived by three sons, Stuart Votaw and Rod Ury, both of North Platte, and Michael Ury, of Valley; four daughters, Ruth Smith, of Emporia, Carol Crosier, of North Platte, Paula Thompson, of Chesapeake, Va., and Pamela Schmidt, of Lincoln; three grandchildren, Amy Kreider Thompson, Christopher Smith and Sarah Smith; and one great-granddaughter, Annabelle Kreider.
Bill was preceded in death by both wives, Janice Rice Votaw and Roma Ury Votaw.
Bill was cremated. Burial will be at Fort Riley Post Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 26, with military honors by the Fort Riley honors unit.
Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior project, Fort Riley and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at robertsblue.com.
Services are pending for a memorial service in North Platte. Roberts-Blue-Barnett is in charge of arrangements.