June 13, 1926 – November 7, 2021
Sergeant William “Bill" Gustin, 95 years of age, left this earth and moved to his heavenly home on November 7, 2021. Born June 13, 1926 in Cheyenne, Wyoming to Ivy and Fred Gustin, Bill was the oldest of two children. He spent his youth in Cheyenne where he grew up with his younger sister, Mary.
After graduating from Cheyenne high school, Bill voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served under General Patton in the 76th infantry during WWII. Upon returning from the war, he served as an occupational counselor for the Army helping fellow soldiers to process their discharge from service. He then attended the University of Wyoming in 1946 where he studied mechanical engineering, physics and math. He graduated in May of 1950 with a BS in Physics and a minor in Math. To earn money during high school and college, Bill played the drums in a swing dance band on the weekends. During those days, he was introduced to some famous musicians like Errol Garner and Dave Brubeck influencing his lifetime love for music.
Bill had an interesting professional life beginning with IBM in 1951 installing and servicing “Business Machines". Selected to become part of a special team, he was assigned to train on the new generation of business machines introduced as “computers". After completing his training, he was assigned to the “Atomic Energy Laboratory" where he obtained a top-secret security clearance which allowed him to maintain diagnostic machines used in measuring atomic bomb fallout predictions. After working with IBM, Bill went to work for Magnavox Research Laboratories in 1959 where he worked on building a computer for the National Security Agency to intercept and decode Russian teletype transmissions during the cold war. His team would then train the NSA on how to use the computer. Once the contract was completed in 1961, Bill took a job with General Electric where he worked on a contract with NASA. He was eventually transferred to Huntsville, AL to work on testing, improving and programming technical equipment for the Apollo space rocket program. When that contract was completed in 1966, he transferred to work on another GE contract at the Johnson Space Center. There, he worked in the Flight Center developing new technologies for the Space Shuttle cockpit. When GE parted ways with NASA, he went to work for Rockwell International where he continued work with NASA in the flight simulators for the Space Shuttle. While there, he designed a landing control panel which was a major accomplishment for the program. Bill eventually retired from Rockwell in 1991.
Bill met Mary in 1974 in Friendswood, Texas and they married in 1975. They settled together in Clear Lake City where he was baptized and they raised their children in a loving household with only a few scars from the teen years. Bill and Mary were avid square dancers and were part of a competition group who danced regularly throughout the region. They loved taking their children and grandchildren to Bill’s hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming in the summers to visit his parents and attend the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Bill was a wonderful Father and Grandfather who cooked, ran carpool service, helped run the family business and tutored all of the children/grandchildren in math and science. After selling the family business and retiring, Bill and Mary moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas where Bill tutored at the local schools. They spent only a few years there before their hearts led them back to their children and grandchildren in Texas.
Bill is survived by his wife Mary, of 46 years, his sister, Mary Wagner, his children, Dominic Gustin and wife Toni, Frieda Shafer, Johnna Roberts, Virginia Steele and husband Mark, 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, stepdaughters, nieces and nephews. Bill was a man of high integrity, loved by many and respected by all who knew him.
Friends are cordially invited to attend a visitation with the family at 10:00 AM., with the memorial service to begin at 11:00 A.M., on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546, (281) 992-7200, with Rev. Steve Daley officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Sergeant William M. Gustin to Camp Hope www.ptsdusa.org or Tunnel to Towers www.t2t.org.
Condolences may be sent to the Gustin family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.
3 thoughts on “Sergeant William "Bill" Gustin”
My deepest love and care is sent for Bill's family. Bill was a wonderful brother-in-law to me and my husband Cliff during his lifetime. My memories of Bill will always be ones of admiration and respect. He was always a special uncle to our three children, Amy, Alison and Kelly, and one who knew how to be a strong encouragement to each of them. Bill demonstrated much patience and generosity with each of us which will never be forgotten. He was a kind and gentle person and a true example of the light of Christ.
Condolences 💐 and prayers . I
Never had the privilege to meet him but it sounds like he was a wonderful man and will be missed by many . I’m sure everyone that knew him was touched by his presence. He shall surely be welcomed into loving arms ..
Deepest condolences to my dear Aunt Mary and Johnna, Frieda, Ginny, Dominic and all my cousins, he was so loved by us all. He was an epic human being and Uncle. I am very thankful to have had him in my family's life, he helped my Dad and family so much and he was always so patient with all of us crazy kids running around. We loved our trips with him through the years to the space museum in Houston and I was so happy that we saw him here in Oregon for one more space museum visit as an adult, my kids were lucky enough to get hang out with the real deal too. Every exhibit was amazing to listen to the history he lived through. Sending you all hugs and comfort.