William T. Alumkal

May 25, 1938 – January 5, 2011

As a caring husband and father, a constant friend, a leader who inspired loyalty, and a tireless enthusiast with broad interests, William Alumkal will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched. He leaves his wife Carmelita, his four children, Lisa, Michelle, Neil, and Tony, five grandchildren and countless relatives and friends with his legacy of humor, commitment, and leadership.

He was born in Cochin, India to Thomas and Josephine Alumkal, one of eight children. Bill, as he later came to be known, entered school at a very young age and followed this precocious and ambitious lead in many things, traveling to America while still in his teens and beginning intensive studies in chemistry and engineering. He attended a number of colleges and universities in quick succession, Carroll College, Gonzaga University, the University of Idaho, and finally Montana State University, earning bachelors degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering and then a masters degree and a PhD in chemical engineering.

During his time at Montana State in Bozeman, he met Carmelita (Mely) Castillo, who became Carmelita Alumkal in April 1964. Their first child, Lisa, was born in October 1965, followed later by Michelle, Antony, and Neil. To his family, Bill was always a strong example of the importance of hard work combined with a ready sense of humor.

Bill had a long and impressive career at DuPont that began directly after his graduation in 1966 with a position as a chemical engineer from which he rose to become a senior vice president by the time he retired from the company in 1993. During his time with DuPont, Bill spent several years serving as the president of DuPont Asia Pacific, traveling extensively throughout Asia from his base in Hong Kong. He and Mely returned to Asia later in his career when he became the head of Westinghouse’s Indonesian operations.

Retiring in 1997, he turned his interest and energy to gardening and collecting wine. Some of his happiest times with his family were spent in Fenwick Island, Delaware where the family rented and later owned a cottage. Bill loved to dig for clams and taught the children the art of crabbing as well. In lighthearted moments, his unforgettable, booming laugh rang out.

Bill’s approach to his wide-ranging interests -- whether following business issues or painstakingly landscaping several acres of their Camas, Washington property -- was marked by vitality, enthusiasm, and dedication. He was whole-hearted about everything that captured his attention. We are grateful for his devotion as a husband, father, and friend, for his generous spirit that delighted in the joys and successes of others. His legacy of love and commitment will always be with us.