William P Livingston's Obituary
Obituary
William P. Livingston
William Paul Livingston, a long-time resident of Dover and Rehoboth by the Sea. passed away on February 10, 2018 at 95 years young. Bill was the son of the late Joseph Hall Livingston and Laura Mae Tirrell, both of Jefferson City, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his brother Bob, sister Margie, and the love of his life, Elizabeth “Pat” Livingston, who passed August 5th, 2017.
In 1944 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. While stationed at Dover AFB he met and married Elizabeth Wharton Wilson on September 26, 1944. (Bill was quite the romantic and, all through his married life, was known to leave cute little notes hidden in the house for her to find)..
In 1949, he graduated from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Missouri with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Education in 1951.
Bill had many careers in his life, and many of them simultaneously. First, he was an Industrial Arts/Mechanical Drawing and Drafting teacher in Missouri as well as Dover High, where he retired in 1979 as a Guidance Counselor. Being a golf coach was one of his fondest memories. ( His students would recall how he would give a coupon for a free dairy queen cone in exchange for a copy of their church bulletins.!) He served as President of the Delaware Industrial Arts Association in 1959-1960 and received the “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award by the Industrial Arts Association of Delaware in 1964.
Later he ventured into business.(Bill spent so much time earning and saving for his family that he was affectionately known as 'Dollar Bill”). He was owner and later State Franchise Manager of Delaware Dairy Queen for 18 years and opened the first Dairy Queen store in Dover in 1951. (He loved Dairy Queen and was often heard to say he craved a sundae with a 'curl on the top”, and his favorite, the “dilly “bar!.)
Bill and his wife were active in Republican politics. During the campaign and election of Russell W. Peterson for Governor, in 1970, he was appointed Aide-de-Campe to Governor Peterson..
He began his illustrious real estate career in 1968 in Rehoboth, Delaware with Anderson-Stokes Real Estate, finishing his career with Burns & Ellis Realtors in Dover.. He was not only in real estate sales, but was an appraiser and a broker, as well.
In addtion to his real estate, Bill was active in the community of Dover. He was a past member of the Dover Jaycees, and the Dover Rotary Club.
He was an active member for over 70 years in The First Baptist Church.. He was instrumental in the design of the First Baptist Church building on Walker Rd., where he served as Trustee Emeritus and Chairman of the board for many years.
Bill and Pat traveled the world,and some of their favorite adventures were in Europe, Egypt, and the Orient ( as long as he wasn’t too busy falling off the pier trying to take pictures!).
They loved visiting with their immediate and extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins at their beloved cottage in Rehoboth Beach. Bill was a great story teller and would love to entertain others by telling puns whenever he could fit them in.
Mr. Livingston is survived by his youngest brother, John David Livingston, two daughters, Jo Anne Livingston Fahey Ivie and son-in-law, Bill Ivie of Chatham, Virginia, and June Livingston Hedges and son-in-law, Bernard H. Hedges, of Roseville, California, and five grandchildren, Thomas and Steven Fahey, and Quinn Hedges, Hilary Hedges Dibben, Rebecca Hedges, and three great grandchildren: Mia Hedges Jacobs, Ryder Hedges Dibben, and Liam Hedges.
The family would like to acknowledge a very special thanks to Sarah Nelson, Kim Bishop, and Mike Lewis, their kind and gentle caregivers.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Dover, 301Walker Road, Dover, Delaware, February 16, 2018, at 11AM. Visitation will be held at 9:30AM, with a graveside service at Lakeside Cemetery after the funeral service. A fellowship luncheon welcoming family and friends will immediately follow at the church.
It is suggested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the First Baptist Church of Dover., The American Bible Society and the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. Letters of condolences may be sent to www.traderfh.com
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