William H. Southwell Jr.

It is with great sorrow and a multitude of fond memories that we say goodbye to William “Bill” Henry Southwell Jr., who was called to his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the age of 80. William was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on March 19, 1944, to Merle Crawford and William H. Southwell Sr., both of whom have preceded him in death.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Diana Southwell; his children, daughter Susan Godbey and husband Jon, and son Scott Southwell; his beloved grandchildren, Kyle, Meghan, and Timothy; his sister, Jewel Sweat, and many other friends and loved ones.

Bill married his one and only, Diana, on August 21, 1964, in a lovely ceremony in Niceville, Florida. Their 59-and-a-half-year partnership was built on mutual love, respect, and shared ambitions. With their union came two wonderful children, Susan, and Scott.

Bill joined the Air Force out of high school in 1962 which launched a rewarding 28-year career, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) in 1990. During his time in the Air Force, he served in Vietnam and Thailand, then later Idaho and Alaska. He was quickly selected as Senior Enlisted Advisor for the 552nd AWACS wing out of Tinker AFB, OK, where he successfully served for 6 years. Bill earned many awards and citations during his military career.

During his years in the Air Force, Bill dedicated himself to all the higher education he could, earning his BS in Business from Oklahoma City University while at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, his Masters in Human Resource Management while at Langley AFB, VA, his final base before retiring, and his Ph.D. in Adult Education from the University of Oklahoma in 2001. While pursuing his doctorate, he enjoyed working at OU’s Training and Development School before going on to a successful 15-year second career as a Project Manager for ARINC, supporting the military with training and development initiatives.

Faith and family were invaluable to Bill. A well-known and highly respected person in his community, he faithfully and enthusiastically taught Bible classes at First Moore Baptist Church for over 30 years. His love of Bible study and teaching were evident to all who enjoyed his classes. Over many years of church membership, he served in many leadership capacities including leadership committees and Deacon. In addition to being quite active at church, he also regularly volunteered for Gideons International.

After his retirement, Bill began to focus solely on his family, his church family at First Moore Baptist, and his personal interests and passions. If he wasn’t watching an OU football game, you’d likely find William in the middle of one of his many woodworking projects, fine-tuning one of his handmade ink pens, or researching his many interests. There was no subject Bill could not learn more about!

Though his hobbies brought him immense joy, it was ultimately his family that meant the most to him. His role as a husband and father was paramount, and he took infinite pride in his children and grandchildren’s development and achievements. As we honor the memory of Bill, we are reminded of the lasting impact he leaves on the hearts of his family and friends — a legacy of faith, strength, and genuine devotion. His memory will live forever in our hearts.

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