William F. Bauch Jr.

He was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and the son of the late William F. Bauch, Sr. and Emma Wright Bauch. Bill attended Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating in 1941 with a B.S. degree in civil engineering. He began his career as a mining engineer for Inland Steel Co. in Wheelwright, Ky., where he met his future wife, Anna Mae Bailey. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and proudly served his country in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He resumed working in the coal mines for a brief period, before returning to Illinois and employment as a traffic engineer with the Illinois Highway Dept. Bill was able to take a leave of absence in 1948-49 to pursue post-graduate studies in traffic engineering at Yale University. In 1965, he moved the family to the Washington area to begin a new job at the Federal Highway Administration in the Dept. of Transportation, where he worked until his retirement in 1983. His love of civil engineering and transportation was always present, as seen by the many maps he possessed, professional magazines he subscribed to and the frequent trips, often out of the way, to see a new bridge or dam or to ride on a newly constructed road.

His retirement years were filled with many hours spent volunteering at the Montgomery County Hospice Society, the Washington Ear, and St Agnes Hospital, as well as visiting family around the country, traveling, playing golf and attending Orioles baseball games. He faithfully attended Sunday and often daily mass as a parishioner of Our Lady of the Angels at Charlestown.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Mae, and his two sisters, Marie Kirby and Frances Coghlan.

Left to cherish his memory are his five children, Susan B. Campbell (Richard) of Newport News, VA, James W. Bauch (Laurel) of New Windsor, MD., Joseph E. Bauch of Missoula, MT., Nancy J. Bauch of Denver, CO. and Sara A. Chopp of Newport News, VA and 8 grandsons that he was so proud of, Paul and Matthew Campbell, Chris and Sam Bauch, Jacob and Owen Bauch, and Emory and Bailey Chopp. We loved our Dad and Pop-Pop very much and will really miss him.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Sterling Ashton Schwab Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc., 1630 Edmondson Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228 on Sunday, May 6, 2012 from 6 to 8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 7th, 9:30am at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5422 Old Frederick Rd, Baltimore, MD 21229. Entombment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Charlestown, 715 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228.