Bill was born in Wheatland, Missouri on November 21, 1929, to Lloyd and Ruby Williams. Bill attended school in Wheatland until his family moved to Springfield, MO in 1938. He attended Phelps Elementary, Jarrett Jr. High, and Senior High School (now Central) graduating in the class of 1947. He went to work in Kansas City, and when he returned to Springfield Bill went to work for City Utilities until he was drafted for the Korean War in 1951, from which he returned in 1953. He was encouraged to attend SMS and graduated in 1956. He attended Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee for his M.A. degree, and The University of Arkansas for a Specialist Degree. For ten years Bill traveled the State of Missouri, calling on Public Schools and Colleges, representing educational publishers. At SMS Bill was elected Student Body President for the year of 1955-56 as well as Who's Who in Colleges. In 1962 Bill served as a supervisor of student teachers at SMS until he joined the Springfield Public Schools as a teacher and then principal at Oak Grove, Holland, Cherokee, and Delaware Schools. In 1990 he retired and enjoyed attending the Bears and the Lady Bears games at SMS/MSU. Bill is survived by numerous cousins and his great friends Robert Disken, Louise Lunn, Andrew Lower, Rick Gardner, Larry Folkins and many other friends and co-workers who helped to make his life very enjoyable as the years rolled by, especially during his illness. Bill has mentioned many times his wonderful neighbors. Bill wrote his own obituary and his wishes were memorial contributions to American Cancer Society, Humane Society of SW Missouri and Boys and Girls Club. Online condolences may be made at gormanscharpf.com.