William Dow Askins

William (Bill) Dow Askins, 67, of Austin, TX died on Sunday, May 24, 2009 after a 21-month courageous battle with brain cancer. He died in the comfort of his home, surrounded by family. Bill was born July 14, 1941 in Cincinnati, OH and spent his early years in northern Kentucky and Toledo, OH before joining the U.S. Navy. Bill proudly served our country for 22 years before retiring as a Lieutenant in 1980. He went on to have a successful career in high tech marketing, working for Raytheon and Digital Equipment Corporation in Massachusetts before relocating to Austin TX to work at a start-up company, Staktek, where he retired in 2005 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Bill was an avid golfer and a member of the Clubs of Lakeway for the past 15 years as well as the Lakeway Men's Golf Association and Austin Society. When he wasn't golfing you would often find him doing projects around the house or in his much-admired woodworking shop. He was an accomplished woodworker yet when asked what he made, his reply was often "I make small pieces of wood out of big pieces of wood". Bill loved his family deeply and extended that love to his many friends. Throughout his life, and especially during his valiant fight with cancer, he showed us what it meant to live. He taught us all courage, strength, and determination, and that laughter is good, even in the most difficult of times. He was a great storyteller, brought people together, and made friends easily. We are all better for having had the honor and privilege to know and love him. Bill is survived by his wife Nancy, his two sons, Scott and wife Sherri of Arlington TN and Brad and wife Carrie of Austin TX, along with seven adored grandchildren, Cassidy, Maddison, Colby, Sydney, Bradley, Reid, and Lilly. He is also survived by his mother Gladys Kilgore of Oregon OH, sister Lou Heck and husband Ed of Curtice OH, brother Mike and wife Jenna of Aurora, OH. His father, William M. Askins, precedes him in death. He also leaves many loving sister- and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews, and the most amazing group of friends who he loved dearly. A memorial service with military honors will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at the Lakeway Church in Lakeway, TX with Chaplain Sarah Bentley officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Bill Askins Memorial Fund at the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018 or online at www.abta.org. The family would like to thank the staff at Texas Oncology and Hospice Austin for their care and compassion. Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Homes is handling the arrangements.