William Stagg
Age - 86
November 30, 2023
Dr. William "Bill" Ray Stagg, 84, of Southern Pines, NC, passed away on November 29, 2023, at First Health Regional Hospital, Pinehurst, NC. He was born on September 15, 1937, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Arthur C. and Valta L. Stagg. He grew up in the shadow of the University of Kentucky and developed an early love of Shakespeare and science, particularly ichthyology. He spent summers traveling with his family throughout the eastern United States and Canada, from Florida to Montreal. Bill attended the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Army ROTC. He received a B. S. in Chemistry in 1959, then he continued his studies at Iowa State University, where he pursued a PhD in Physical Chemistry. When home for Christmas one year, he met his future wife, Anne Camille Crawford, on a blind date on Christmas Eve. Bill and Anne were married on June 15, 1962, and lived in Ames, Iowa, until he completed his PhD. The young couple then moved to Urbana-Champagne, Illinois, while he did a post-doctorate under Therald Molder on the synthesis of chelating agents. Following his post-doctorate, Bill and Anne moved to Princeton, NJ, where he worked as a research chemist for FMC Corporation. He was soon called up by the Army for duty, however, and headed to Fort McClellan in Texas for training as a captain. He fulfilled his military service at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, where he was a research chemist for 2 years. Bill and Anne spent three months in Europe on a belated honeymoon, the first trip of what would be many during their marriage. They then moved to Hamilton, New York, where he took a position as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Colgate University. His two daughters, Susanne and Celia, were born during this period. In 1972, Bill and his family moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, where he was an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Randolph-Macon Women's College for four years before moving to Babcock and Wilcox, where he worked for 25 years until retirement as a Senior Research Chemist. During his time at B & W, he published several papers on the coordination complexes of organic chelates with rare earth elements. He was an active member of the American Chemical Society for many years. Bill was also an active member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, serving on the Vestry in multiple positions, including that of warden. He also served as a member and chair of the board for Peakland Pool, where his daughters were avid swimmers-and where he spent many evenings timing races at summer league meets. He became involved in the local photography club, pursuing a passion he developed in childhood, eventually participating in shows in Lynchburg. Bill and Anne traveled extensively in their later years, exploring Europe, Asia, North and Central America, and Australia. Bill and Anne moved to Penick Village in Southern Pines, NC, in 2011, to be close to their daughter, Susanne, and her family. Bill continued his interest in photography through the Sandhills Photography Club and volunteered in several capacities at Penick Village. His greatest joys were his family, pet dogs, photography, and travel. His greatest loss was the early passing of his youngest daughter, Celia, from leukemia at age 12. Bill is survived by his daughter, Susanne (Kevin) Stagg Cooper of Southern Pines; his grandson, William Richard Cooper, of Courtenay, British Columbia; his granddaughter, Amy Reed Cooper, of Victoria, British Columbia; sister-in-law, Marjory Stagg, of Maunelle, Arkansas; niece, Sabrina Heline, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois; nephew, Michael Stagg, of North Little Rock, Arkansas; sister-in-law and husband, Elizabeth and Scott Brown, of Durham; niece, Alison Brown Pinkerton, of Durham; nephew, Jared Curtis Brown, of Burlingame, California; and cousins Cathy and John Rinzel of Garrett Park, Maryland, and Michael and Mark Rinzel, both of Brooklyn, New York. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Coleman and Valta Lafaun Stagg; wife, Anne Camille Stagg; daughter, Celia Allison Stagg; and brother, Arthur Coleman Stagg, Jr. A service honoring his life will be held at Penick Village on Friday, December 8, at 4:00 pm. A memorial service will be held in Lynchburg, Virginia, at a later date. The family would like to express their gratitude to Penick Village for its services over the past decade. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that donations be made to the Dr. Paul G. Sears Chemistry Scholarship Fund at the University of Kentucky, which was established in honor of Bill's father-in-law and chemistry advisor at the University of Kentucky. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines, NC.Show more
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