Memorial Service
First Presbyterian Church
800 Jefferson St.
Kerrville, TX  78028
Saturday, May 7, 2022
2:00 PM
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William "Bill" Martin Hathaway Sr.

of Kerrville, TX

December 28, 1918 - February 18, 2022


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William (Bill) passed away on February 18, 2022, at the age of 103, at home on his ranch near Kerrville, attended by family, Peterson Hospice, and daily caregivers.

He was born at home in Little Rock, Arkansas as the second child to William and Nancy Martin Hathaway on December 28, 1918. His father was a railroad dispatcher with Missouri Pacific and his mother was a homemaker and a DAR member. Bill was a self-driven child raised in Little Rock where he graduated from Little Rock High School in 1937. He was awarded a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1941 with top grades and went on to earn a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1944 where he received a grant to study gas turbine combustion for his thesis. In 1942, while at MIT, he married Marian Shutt, his childhood sweetheart. After graduation, Bill went on to work in the petrochemical industry where he ultimately progressed to Vice-President of Process Engineering with Fluor Corp.

Bill and Marian had a daughter and two sons, William Martin Hathaway Jr. and John Scott Hathaway. Marian passed away unexpectedly in 1950. In 1955, Bill married Janice Paul after meeting her at a picnic for singles at the First Presbyterian Church in Houston. Bill and Janice had three sons, Stuart Austin Hathaway, David Ross Hathaway and James Perry Hathaway while living in Houston. In 1971, Fluor moved the family to Irvine, California where they lived in the Turtle Rock subdivision until Bill retired in 1984 after 34 years with the company.

Following Bill's retirement, the family moved to Kerrville where they had purchased land and started building their ''Turtle Rock'' ranch. Bill oversaw every aspect of the building process, from designing the entry road to constructing the house. He loved his retirement ranch where he ran a hay business with his son David. Each year he welcomed the Ag Extension Service as they presented their course on ''pecan grafting'' along his creek. He truly enjoyed maintaining the ranch - driving his tractor and working to keep his creek and farmland looking beautiful. He drove until he was 100 years old. He loved his customers and neighbors, always had a smile on his face, and looked forward to seeing people and having visitors. Bill and Janice were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, and their cremains are interred in the church memory wall.

Bill is survived by his 5 sons: Bill Hathaway Jr. (Pauline), John Hathaway (Nancy), Stuart Hathaway, David Hathaway, and James Hathaway; grandchildren: Laura Kaslow (Kris), Travis Hathaway (Amie Shinohara), and Amanda Hathaway (Tim Trometer); step grandchildren: Blake Polin (Shamika), and Melissa Francisco (Arnold); great grandchildren: Jared Hoff, Keelin Kaslow, Anissa Polin, Anaya Polin, Maxwell Francisco, Bailey Trometer, Grant Trometer, Colin Hathaway and Julian Hathaway; and cousin: Garth Martin.

He was preceded in death by his baby daughter, his first wife Marian, his second wife Janice, his parents, William and Nan Martin Hathaway and his two sisters, Coralyn Hathaway and Elizabeth Hunt.

A memorial service will be on May 7th, 2PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 800 Jefferson St., Kerrville.

The family wishes to thank Peterson Hospice for their excellent care and attention to Bill these last three years. He loved all the special attention and tender care they provided for him. The family wishes to express special gratitude to Sam, his hospice nurse and Hope, Ali, and Rosie for their love and commitment to Bill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in support of Peterson Hospice.

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1 Condolence(s)
THOMAS MORTON
Early, TX
Saturday, March 19, 2022

I worked with Bill for a number of years. Coincidently we both started our careers at the Exxon refinery in Baton Rouge and retired from Fluor Engineering in Irvine, California. Bill was a giant in our profession and working with him was a pleasure. After I also retired in Texas we resumed our friendship over pleasant lunches at La Fours every few months until the Covid-19 pandemic locked us in. Had Bill not outlived most of his many friends by so long the tributes would fill many more pages. I was blessed to be a friend of his. He will not be forgotten. Rest in peace Brother.