William C. Pumphrey

William Charles Pumphrey August 27, 1922 - February 1, 2000 William 'Bill' Charles Pumphrey died at St. Mary Corwin Hospital on Tuesday February 1st after a nearly 4-year battle with lung disease. Bill was born August 27, 1922, in Bellingham, Washington to Paul A. and Opal Pumphrey. He spent the first 9 years of life there and moved to Colorado Springs with his family around 1930. He attended schools in Colorado Springs and graduated in 1940 from what is now Palmer High School. Bill then attended Colorado A&M (CSU). In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and began his military service as a pilot. He was stationed at Ft. Morgan, Colorado, Lubbock, Texas, Ft. Campbell Kentucky and was serving as an instructor at the Army Air Corps Base for Glider Pilots in Alliance, Nebraska when the Allied Invasion took place. Six weeks later he was involved in the battle for Europe and was flying out of Abbeville, France. During his military career he landed over 500 gliders. For the remainder of his military career he co-piloted C-47's where he delivered gas to the front lines. After the war he returned to Colorado Springs where he met a beautiful young schoolteacher from Iowa named Patricia Anderson. They married June 6, 1947, at First Christian Church in Colorado Springs. They moved to Pueblo where Bill and his brother Paul had founded the Cleaver Carpet Cleaning Business in 1946. Bill was a very active member of his beloved Pueblo community. He was committed member of the Pueblo YMCA. He helped to build numerous buildings at what is now Camp Jackson. He was an active Mason, Shiner and Elk. He and his family were members at Park Hill Christian from 1947 until 1957. In 1957 the family joined Central Christian Church where Bill served in numerous roles from Sunday School teacher to Elder. Later in life if Bill was not fishing his favorite activity was volunteering at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center where he proudly wore his button that said, 'Hi My Name is Bill, let me tell you where to go!' Bill is survived by his wife, Pat; sons, Mark (Mary Kay) and Charles; daughter, Rita Maquez (David); grandchildren, Nathan (Kristina), Amy (fiancé, Christian Piatt), Andy, Matt (Melanie), Michael and Jed; three step-grandchildren, Stephanie, Faith and Regie; five great-grand children. His brother and friend, Paul (Karla) Pumphrey and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death in 1979 by his youngest son, Don who was killed in an automobile accident. Services for Bill will be at Saturday, February 5, 2000, 10:00 a.m. at Central Christian Church, 1902 North Hudson, with Dr. David Chambers presiding and Dr. Mark William Pumphrey assisting. Anyone wishing to make memorial gifts can make them to the Don and William Pumphrey Ministerial Scholarship at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the funeral home serving as custodian. Please feel free to give to the charity of your choice in Bill's name.