William Earl Conklin Jr.

Beloved husband, father and papa, William “Bill” Earl Conklin, Jr., 75, of Newburgh, joined our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. Born September 12, 1937, in Charleston, West Virginia, Bill was the son of William Earl Conklin and Myrtle Lee (Hanson) Conklin.

Bill achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts and graduated from Charleston’s Stonewall Jackson High School. At the University of West Virginia, he lettered in swimming and earned his bachelor’s degree in business. He also earned a master’s degree in business from the University of Southern Indiana.

On December 5, 1957, he married Darlene Ash, who survives. After working in Cleveland, Ohio, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the family moved to Newburgh in 1970. Bill served as a human resources executive at Deaconess Hospital until his retirement in 1999. A familiar and helpful presence on the Deaconess administrative staff, Bill was most proud of his involvement in facilitating on-site childcare at the downtown campus. A playground at the facility is named in his honor.

Bill served as local, regional, state and national president of his professional organization, the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources, and was honored nationally.

He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and a past member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, where he served as treasurer for many years.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents.

In addition to his wife, Darlene, Bill is survived by his son, William E. Conklin, III, and his wife, Carla, of Haubstadt, and their children, William E. Conklin, IV, and Elisabeth; his daughter, Amy, and her husband, Kendal Kroeger, of Newburgh, and their children, Kristopher and Kelsey; a brother-in-law, John Ash of Fairmont, West Virginia; and a niece, Kelly Nichols and her husband, Kevin of Fairmont, West Virginia.

The calling and services are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Saturday, June 22, 2013, at Alexander Newburgh Chapel, officiated by Rev. Sean Smith, Rev. Cindy L. Geisen, and Rev. Joseph Foster, with entombment at Alexander Memorial Park. Friends may visit Friday, 2-8 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Warrick Special Olympics, 1744 Bawel Road, Boonville, IN 47601, Warrick Humane Society, 5722 Vann Road, Newburgh, IN 47630, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family wants to thank the staff of Deaconess Gateway Hospital for their extraordinary care and compassion during the past two months.