William A. North, or Bill to those who knew him best, at age 78 joined the great choir of angels on April 23, 2019. Bill was born on November 14, 1940, in Coffeyville, Kansas, to James Carr North and Margaret Ruth Slater. During his grade school years, the family moved to Hopkins, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. He graduated from Hopkins High School in 1958 and then attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1962 with a BA in History. Bill was a Theta Chi and served as president of his chapter. While at the University of Minnesota, Bill met his lifelong love, Marilyn, who was to become his wife of 55 years.
After college, Bill enlisted in the Army Reserves. He served from 1962-1968. During these years he began working in retail. He enjoyed a successful career in executive management with several major retailers, including the Kroger Company, Walmart, and Target. In 1987, he was brought to Oklahoma City to work for the C.R. Anthony Company, from which he retired in 2000.
Bill enjoyed golf, marathon running, attending the symphony, OU basketball, in addition to singing in the Westminster Presbyterian Church choir. While wintering in Arizona, he enjoyed playing in a golf league and on a senior softball team. After retirement, Bill and Marilyn traveled extensively, motorhoming across the U.S. and Canada. They enjoyed exploring National Parks and American historic locations, while also visiting their many friends and family across the beautiful U.S.A.
Bill is survived by his wife, Marilyn Elizabeth Roden North; their daughters Christine Lynn North of Ada, OH; Anne Slater North Reed and husband John, and their daughter Lauren of Wilmington, DE; Brother Robert (Bob) Slater North and wife Nora Lou of Bella Vista, AR; and Brother John Henry North and wife Mary of St. Charles, IL; along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on May, 4, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Internment will occur at a later time at an historic family plot dating back to 1854 in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or Westminster Presbyterian Church Music Department.
