William Joseph “Bill” Hanby, Sr., age 79, passed away peacefully of Mesothelioma, surrounded by his loving family at the Kobacker House in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, June 5, 2015.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents John Byron Hanby, Sr. and Erma Sayers Hanby, daughter Jane Hanby Bowers and brother John B. Hanby, Jr. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Linda Ray Hanby; children Judith Hanby (Russ) Turner, William Joseph (Beth) Hanby Jr., Jeffrey Carl Hanby, Amy Hanby (Eric) Belle; grandchildren Collin Turner, Ryan Turner, William J. Hanby III, Galen Hanby, Joyce Hanby, Alexander Hanby, Lincoln Thomas Belle; and siblings Jean Hanby (Jack) Sutherland, Donald (Mary Lou) Hanby, Kenneth (Judy) Hanby.
Bill was born on the family farm in Knox, PA.
The family survived the Great Depression and Bill became a self-taught mechanic, fixing all the farm machinery and working from dawn to dusk to operate a 200 acre farm.
He proudly served in the US Air Force in Germany and Saudi Arabia from 1954-1958 where he earned the National Defense Service Medal, German Occupation Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
After the military Bill earned an associate degree from Allegheny Technical Institute in 1961.
He then commenced a 40 year career in telecommunications engineering for North American Aviation, Ohio Bell, Ameritech, and Quest earning one patent and numerous honors including Quest Employee of the Year.
Bill was gifted in understanding and repairing all things mechanical and electrical.
He also was an inventor, designing a device to aid in speech therapy and car radar detectors.
His life was focused by hard work and love of family. Bill was a perpetually happy person in all aspects of his life. He was happiest when in the company of family and friends.
He was loved by all and will be missed forever.
Family will welcome friends from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at the Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell, 450 West Olentangy Street, Powell, OH 43065.
Funeral Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2015. (The funeral home is located on W. Olentangy St./Powell Rd./SR 750 ¼ mile east of Sawmill Parkway.)
If they choose, friends may make memorial contributions to: Ohio Health Hospice/Kobacker House, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus, OH 43214 or to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, 1317 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 (877)-363-6376 www.curemeso.org., in Bill’s memory.
Please visit www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com to send condolences to the Hanby Family.
