Bill Andrews
William D. Andrews, age 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 4, 2020.
Bill was born on December 23, 1932, in Strawberry, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his father, Wallace, and his mother, Myrle. He is survived by Donna, his wife of 64 years, two daughters, Terri Moore and Karen Carty (husband Glen), granddaughters Alyson and Erin Moore, Jade-Rae Wink, Cody Carty, and great-granddaughters Bella and Natalia Wink; his sister Norma Love of Los Altos, CA, and brother Larry (wife Cheryle) of Meridian, ID.
Bill graduated in 1950 from Colton High School and from San Bernardino Valley Jr. College in 1952. He was drafted into the US Army where he served as a sergeant during the Korean conflict and when he returned home, he started a long career with GTE, initially in California, where he served as a lineman. This period of his life was formative and held many great memories, which he was never shy about sharing. He was curious and a student of detail, always looking for a better or more efficient way to do things. These qualities were recognized by his supervisors, who saw in him the potential for greater things, so he was placed in a management training program that subsequently led to a career in data processing.
Bill moved his family to Florida in 1969 to work for GTE Data Services (GTEDS) as a manager of Systems Development, where his potential was again recognized by his leadership. His favorite saying was "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail", so in the spirit of this mantra, he decided to pursue a business degree. Bill graduated from the University of Tampa in 1981, with a BSc in Business Administration. He remembered these years fondly, and true to his playful spirit was the source of much banter between him and his daughter, who was also doing her degree at the time, about who got the better grades. His version was that he did, but he always said it with a sly smile, so the truth was never known.
Bill was awarded the GTEDS Best Award in 1985. He retired in 1993, after 39 years with GTE/GTEDS, as the Data Processing Advisory Manager for the Corporate Controller.
He was a problem solver; he could fix almost anything. He loved photography, hunting and traveling, and boy did he love traveling. He spent weeks at a time traveling with his wife and daughters to museums and national parks around the country. In his retirement, he traveled to all 50 states in an RV with Donna (and friends), sometimes accompanied by his granddaughters. He loved taking pictures and watching birds. One of his prized possessions was his collection of more than seventeen thousand slides, which he always spoke about digitizing, but sadly he never got around to because he was so busy with his next greatest interest, the stock market.
Bill was very active in the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and a member of many committees. He loved spending time with the youth, especially playing volleyball.
Bill loved being with friends and family more than anything and will be missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in memory of Bill Andrews may be sent to 709 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, Florida, 33612.