William (“Bill”) George Agnew, age 94, died on 31 May 2020, in his home with family in East Lansing, Michigan. He was retired from General Motors Research Laboratories, where he worked for 37 years as a researcher, department head, and technical director. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and served on many NAE committees, an SAE Fellow member, and Sigma Xi honorary engineering society member. He served in the US Army and as a civilian from 1944 to 1946 in Los Alamos, NM, on the Manhattan project. He completed his BS, MS, and PhD all in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. His expertise included internal combustion engines, gas turbines, engine performance, automotive air pollution, and alternate fuels; he noted that he helped put the lead in fuels and years later helped take it out. He always worked to “make things better.” In 2008, he captured many of his other adventures and activities in his autobiography: “Remembrances and Ruminations, What I did and what I thought” which sold out of its first printing of 100 copies.
Bill was born to Dupre and Marion Agnew in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1926. He is preceded in death by his wife, Norma Jean Agnew (Light), and sister, Betty Prest (John). He is survived by his sons Brian (Libba), Dan (Gavonna), and Dalen (Ann Marie), daughter Patti Ann, grandchildren Bryn, Tyler, Kati, Noah, Shelby, Emma, and Liam, great grandchildren Macy and Fallon, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
As both Bill and Norma were big believers in education, memorial donations can be made to Michigan 4-H Foundation - Norma Agnew Memorial 4-H Horse Judging Scholarship (https://mi4hfdtn.org/donate/); the SAE Foundation Scholarship Fund (https://www.saefoundation.org/); or Focus:HOPE(https://www.focushope.edu/donate/).
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18