William S. McDaniel Jr.

William S. McDaniel, Jr., 82, Phoenix, formerly of Topeka, died Wednesday, November 12, 2008 in Mesa, Arizona. 

William was born October 21, 1926 in Garden City, Kansas to William Solon and Dollye (Weidman) McDaniel.  He lived in Topeka for many years before moving to Phoenix, Arizona.  William graduated from Topeka High School and received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas.  He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII aboard the U.S.S. St. Louis and also served in the U.S. Naval Reserves earning the rank of Lieutenant.  William was employed by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Topeka, for 17 years and retired in 1988 from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix, AZ as a Resident Electrical Engineer for the Central Arizona Project. 

William married Virginia Lee Kaberline on January 27, 1951 in Topeka.  She preceded him in death on December 18, 1999.  Survivors include two sons, Bruce (Janet) McDaniel, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Bart (Cindy) McDaniel, Phoenix, Arizona; a sister-in-law, Anna Marie (“Swede”) Foster, Topeka, and four grandchildren – Lauren, Katrina, Garrett and Brian. 

Mr. McDaniel will lie in state from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home where a rosary will be offered at 6:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery where military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Navy. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Catholic Charities of Tulsa, P.O. Box #6429, Tulsa, OK. 74148-0429 or  to Banner Valley Hospice, 2025 North 3rd Street, Suite 250, Phoenix, AZ  85004.

Online condolences to www.brennanmathenafh.com.