It was a sunny day in August 1933 when Margaret (McWhite) Grant and William E. Grant welcomed their second son Bill. He was born in Hendersonville, NC with a head of light haired curls. Bill joined his older brother, Mac, at home. 

Bill had his first full-time job at age 11, proud to carry his social security card. He worked any job he could find to help support the growing family. His schooling was a priority as well as a life long passion for reading, anything and everything. When Bill finished reading all of the books in the junior high school library, he was granted a pass to check out books at the senior high school library. The family moved to Palatka, FL where Bill graduated from high school. 

He often reminiscenced about the impact a local judge and his wife had on him. Bill fondly remembered learning to bake pies with the judge’s wife and reading books from their home library while sitting with the judge’s ailing mother. Often at night he carried pails of milk home, over the North Carolina hills, and bags of flour from the local mill. Bill grew up in the country and never forgot his Appalachian heritage. 

Bill’s love for the outdoors blossomed throughout his life. He spent many days roaming the nearby mountains with his brothers and swimming in local streams. He couldn’t understand why his mother scolded the boys for swimming without an adult, later realizing their wet hair was a good clue to their unsupervised activity. The kids loved being barefoot as soon as spring arrived. They hid their shoes by a tree on their hike to school, then retrieved their shoes on the walk home. Unfortunately, one time, a late spring snow covered their shoes, not to be found. 

Shortly after Bill graduated from high school, he and a friend enlisted in the US Air Force during the Korean conflict. Three of his four years of service were served at a base in England. Many of his colorful stories were based in London with Irish Mary, and friends. 

Discharged from military service in 1955, Bill initially planned to attend college in Mexico City. Los Angeles became his next home where he started his professional career and education. College classes began at Los Angeles City College. He finished his BA and MA at San Fernando Valley State College and his Ph.D at Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University). He studied English. 

Bill’s professional career began as a writer-editor at the Ralph M. Parsons Company, soon moving to the aerospace industry, working at Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation as a publications analyst. His career in higher education began in 1966 at two California institutions; San Fernando Valley State College and Immaculate Heart College. Bill left California in 1971 to teach at the University of Louisville where he was promoted to Associate Professor. Bill attained Full Professor status at Bowling Green State University where he directed the Center for American Studies and the American Culture Ph.D Program. Bill was awarded a Fulbright Lectureship to the University of Munster (West Germany) from 1989-1990, the year the Berlin Wall fell. 

Retiring from BGSU in late 2000, Bill joined his wife in New Mexico. For several years he taught online classes for Skidmore College. When his family moved to Grand Junction in 2002, Bill’s interests expanded to work on environmental issues, especially through Western Colorado Congress. He enjoyed his years as an Op Ed writer for The Daily Sentinel writing on a variety of topics. Many of his days were spent hiking and exploring western Colorado, and often with friends, in the canyons of Bluff, Utah. His constant trail companion, Katie, was always by his side, as his pet dog, Punjab, in his youth. 

Bill’s parents are deceased as well as two brothers, Mac and Allen, and Baby Grant. He is survived by his wife, Claudia Crowell, a son and daughter-in-law, Austin Grant and Amanda Amiel. Also surviving are one brother, Julian, three sisters, Mary, Mona and Margaret Ann, and a brother-in-law, Charles Crowell, and friend, Pat Meissner. Mac, a canine buddy, is at home with his wife. There are many nieces and nephews.

Bill was an incredible man. He is loved and will be missed. 

There are many to thank for Bill’s care. They include Drs. Andy Mohler, Severs (VA) and Ayala (Intermountain St Mary’s). A special thank you to the staff in the Intermountain St Mary’s 9th Floor Neuro Unit and those who graciously attended him in his final hours at Hope West Hospice. If you are inclined, please make a donation in Bill’s memory to your favorite charity.