William Sutherland Worth

William Sutherland Worth, born April 7, 1926 in Cleveland Ohio, died February 20, 2019 in Boulder Colorado. William (Bill), son of Percy and Marguerite Worth was raised by his mother and four sisters in Cleveland, Ohio. He was drafted into the U.S. Army from high school and served in the Army from September 1944 to 1946. He was stationed in Luzon, Philippines and at Okinawa with in Japan. He earned the rank of Sargent in the 11th Airborne Division and was awarded a Bronze Battle Star.

Upon his return from the Army, Bill completed his G.E.D.then graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in 1951. He then traveled west to pursue a Master’s degree in genetics from the University of Wyoming, Laramie. Bill married Ellen Watkins in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954. He and Ellen moved to Denver in 1954. Bill found employment at the University of Colorado Medical School as a research physiologist. Bill and Ellen raised three children, Cynthia, Tom and Randy in south Denver and Littleton.

From 1965 through 1966 Bill took his family to Cairo, Egypt where he was a Fulbright professor. This was one of Bill’s grandest adventures though he enjoyed many more throughout his life. After departing from Egypt he and Ellen traveled through Europe, camping with their children. Upon their return to Denver he was employed at the Martin Marietta Corporation where he worked with a team from NASA on the Skylab project. Then Bill changed jobs to work for University of Colorado Medical School, neurology department until 1972. At this point, he chose to fulfill one of his dreams, owning a jewelry business, the Toucan Shop, where he designed and produced gold and silver jewelry.

Bill was a long-standing member of First Plymouth Church, Denver Colorado. He traveled with the international First Plymouth Church missions to places like Dominican Republic for several years to assist in construction projects. His love of international travel also led him to volunteer with the Earth Watch Organization. Bill explored six continents in his lifetime.

His passion for the Rocky Mountains inspired him to build his cabin in Bakersville, close to Silver Plume, Colorado. He and his family spent many weekends there working and playing over the years. Bill volunteered on the Loveland Valley Ski Patrol which provided his family with ski passes for about 15 years. He adored his many golden retrievers that were his companions throughout his life. He enjoyed tinkering in his garage and inventing new gadgets. This led him to found the “Design and Inventors Society” which he hoped would be a way to encourage young inventors.

Bill’s children, daughter, Cynthia Slosson, husband Ron, son Tom Worth, wife Kate and Randy Worth will always remember his unique lifestyle. Bill’s grandchildren, Margot, Claire, Alex and Madelyn have many fond memories of him.

Memorial donations can be directed to “Part the Cloud” Alzheimer’s research, National Alzheimer’s Association.