William John Geiger

Bill Geiger was born in Toledo, Ohio on January 6, 1931. He graduated from Scott High School where he was President of the senior class and a star athlete. He was selected for an NROTC scholarship and began college at Vanderbilt University. Bill and wife Adrianne grew up 6 blocks from each other and when she started college at Ohio State University, Bill decided to finish his studies at OSU. They were secretly married in 1951 because, back then, NROTC cadets were not allowed to be married.

Upon graduation, Bill chose to be a Marine and was selected for pilot training. He had found his passion – flying. Their first of four children, a daughter, Gwynn , was born the day Bill first soloed. That was a breathtaking, unforgettable day! In 1960 Bill attended the Navy Test Pilot School (class #26). Upon graduation he became the project pilot for the F-4 Phantom aircraft. While at the Test Center he participated in and was selected as a finalist in the NASA 1963 Gemini Astronaut selection program. He flew the F-4 in Vietnam as Executive Officer of a squadron, VMFA-513.

In 1966 he left active duty and chose to pursue a career in civil aviation. He worked for a short time in aerospace and then became a faculty member of the School of Safety and Systems Management at the University of Southern California. Missing active flying, Bill returned to operational flying in 1975. He worked for Owens Illinois as Manager of Aircraft Operations of 4 Gulfstream aircraft. He elected to continue his career elsewhere when the company was sold.

After nearly 30 years of happily raising four children, and trying to balance careers, Bill and Adrianne decided to go their separate ways.  Both of them enjoyed warm, meaningful second marriages that ended when cancer took both spouses within six months of each other. Bill and Adrianne then realized they were destined to be together until truly ‘death do you part’.  They enjoyed some of the best years of their marriage having fun and supporting one another in their golden years.

Bill amazingly worked as an independent Gulfstream pilot for many years and took his last flight at the age of 80 – even though he could still pass the FAA tests.

Bill and Adrianne, in addition to Gwynn Geiger Hegyi, have Christianne Geiger Gobrecht, William Gregory Geiger, John Ash Geiger, and Bill’s adopted son, Chien Geiger. They all knew their Dad intimately as a tough, modest Marine with a loving, caring heart, and he will be sorely missed by all.