William Joseph Van Meter

William Joseph Van Meter. Jr., was born on February 06, 1910 in Parsons, KS. He was the third child and oldest son of William Joseph Van Meter. Jr., and Katherine Arnold Van Meter. Bill was a graduate of Parsons High School and Parsons Junior College. He then received an appointment to the United states Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1932 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served on destroyers in the Atlantic during World War ll. On November 26, 1935, Bill married Allene Guthrie of Macon, MC and Parsons, KS. The Van Meters lived on the East Coast until 1949 when they moved to Santa Fe. In 1950 they established residence on a small ranch 17 miles south of the city in what is now known as the Lone Butte area. Bill's first job after moving to Santa Fe was with Robert E. McKee Construction Co. building the old St. Vincent Hospital. Following the completion of this job, Bill went to work for the Sisters of Charity. The Order owned and operated St. Vincent and also a number of other hospitals located in other cities an states. Bill became the in-house consulting engineer for all of their facilities. Bill later worked as an independent contractor for Eberline Instrument Co. He was an expert craftsman in both wood and metal, and he patented a number of mechanical devices which he had invented. He was a life member of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and also a founding member of the Turquoise Trail Volunteer Fire Department. Bill was a world traveler who particularly enjoyed excursions into the wilder country outside the cities. In 1962 he fulfilled a boyhood dream when he went big game hunting in East Africa; and in 1968 he purchased a Land Rover and circumnavigated the Australian continent, stopping at many locations in the "Outback." The friendships that he established in Australia were an enduring source of pleasure and satisfaction to him. Bill and Allene Van Meter left Santa Fe in March 1990 to move to Sun City West, AZ; however, they returned to Santa Fe in the fall of 1997 to be closer to family. Bill died at Santa Fe Care Center on September 20, 1999. William Joseph Van Meter was preceded in death by his parents; by his two sisters; Anna Lee Van Meter Drake and Virginia Van Meter Kitch; by his nephew, William Charles Kitch; and by his wife of 62 years, Allene Guthrie Van Meter (on July 24, 1999). He is survived by his brother, Robin Arnold Van Meter of Tarvo, FL; his brother's sons, Keith Van Meter and wife Mary of New Orleans, LA, and Quentin Van Meter and wife Katherine of Peach tree City, GA; his niece, Katherin Kitch Hagerman and husband H. L. "Bud" Hagerman of Santa Fe, NM; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Anne Hagerman Wall, Thomas and Nathan Hagerman Wall, Thomas and Nathan Hagerman; Virginia, Joseph, and Michael Kitch; Garth, Michael, Alexandra, and Ashley Van Meter; and Kathryn. Timothy, Mary, and James Van Meter; a brother-in-law, F. R. "Bud" Van Sant of Las Cruces, NM; his wife's nephew, Frank Guthrie Van San and wife Lisa of Poway, CA; and Frank's children. Daniel and Leslie Van Sant. Services, if any, will be announced at a later date. The family requests that memorial contributions be directed to the Samuel McClure Goodwin Memorial Scholarship Fund at the New Mexico Military Institute, c/o The NMMI Foundation, 101 W. College, Rowell, NM 88201. Santa Fe Funeral Options 417 E. Rodeo Rd. 989-7032

From: The Santa Fe New Mexican - Santa Fe, New Mexico.  September 22, 1999.

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