William Marvin Dye, of Estes Park, Colorado passed away on September 6, 2015. He was born to Joseph Zachary and Mary E. (Sammons) Dye on December 3, 1922 in Petaluma, California. Bill (as he liked to be called) spent his “growing up” years in Petaluma. Bill graduated from Petaluma High School in 1941.
Soon after graduation Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an apprentice seaman. He served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington CV-2 and was a survivor of the Battle of the Coral Sea in the South Pacific. The Lexington was in Pearl Harbor on December 5, 1941, two days before the attack. He also served aboard the patrol craft U.S.S. PC 626 and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Anzio and Southern France.
After serving six years of active duty in the Navy and earning six battle stars, Bill was honorably discharged in 1947. He then enrolled as a student at the University of California, Berkeley. Bill graduated from UC in 1951 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He was recalled to active duty shortly before his graduation ceremony and was stationed in Guam during the Korean conflict. Bill was honorably discharged from active duty in 1952.
Soon after his receiving his discharge, Bill began a career at State Farm Insurance Company. He was continuously employed there from 1952 to 1980. Prior to his retirement in 1980, he held the position of division manager of property and casualty of the Mountain States region at State Farm regional office in Greeley, Colorado. Bill received his CPCU (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter) designation in 1956. In 1978 he would serve as president of the Colorado Chapter. The “Bill Dye” (CPCU) Insurance Education Scholarship was established October 2, 2008.
Bill has always been very involved in serving, not only for his country but for the community as well. Bill served as President of the Weld County Humane Society, 1971-1972. He also took the leadership role in the foundation of the Colorado Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention and served two terms as its first chairman. He was a member of the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army. He served as President of Minutemen Club (Men who served on board the U.S.S. Lexington CV-2) in 1999.
In 1983, Bill informed the Colorado Department of Transportation of his desire to participate in the Adopt-a-Highway program. He would be responsible for one and a half miles of Highway 7 south of downtown Estes Park for over 30 years!
Bill took it upon himself to clean up and maintain the Memorial area (one mile east of Drake) honoring officers Purdy and Conley who lost their lives in the Big Thompson Flood of 1976 while rescuing others. This act, as well as his many other acts of selflessness, resulted in him receiving the “Everyday Hero Award” from Channel 7 News in 2011.
Bill was responsible for creating an exhibit concerning the history of the U.S.S. Lexington CV-2 and the men who served aboard the ship. This exhibit is housed in the Heartland Museum of Military vehicles in Lexington, Nebraska.
Bill is survived by his wife, Lois Allene (Gordon) (Fowler) Dye, daughters, Dayna Dye of Denver, Colorado, Julie Dye of Greeley, Colorado and Carrie Dye Boutwell (John) of Naples, Florida; step-children, Cindy Vaughan (L. Mac) of Mansfield, Texas, George Fowler of Aurora, Colorado and James Fowler of Orlando, Florida; grandchildren, Holly Dye of Greeley, Colorado, Allison Boutwell of Naples, Florida, Jennifer (Ernie) Lyon, Joseph Fowler, Jessica (Ryan) Garrett all of Orlando, Florida. Leighton Fowler and Jordan Dewick of Aurora, Colorado and Kyle Vaughan of Mansfield, Texas; five great grandchildren, nieces Betsy Dye of San Lorenzo, California, Sally Barker of Redding, California and Janet Althouse of Petaluma, California and nephews Michael Johnson of Salem, Oregon and Gary Carlson of Davis, California.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Claudia Irene Dye, brother John Dye, sisters Alyce Johnson and Jean Carlson and nephew Johnny Dye.
Bill loved the town of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. He spent many days hiking the trails and enjoying nature.
We miss him dearly. He truly made this world a better place.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Bill Dye Scholarship fund of the Colorado Chapter of the CPCU Society, P.O. Box 370066, Denver, Co. 80237
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18