William D. Middleton

William D. Middleton William D. Middleton, 83, died on Sunday, July 10, 2011, at Livonia, New York. He had been battling Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

He was the second of six children of Dr. and Mrs. William D. Middleton. All six were born at Davenport, Iowa. William went on to be a career naval officer, chief facilities officer for the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and an extensive career as a railroad historian and photographer for more than 60 years.

Middleton was among the first recruits for the United States Navy's new ROTC training program in 1946, and completed his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, in 1950. Following his graduation he was commissioned in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps and began a career of almost 30 years. His work with the Navy took him to French Morocco, Turkey, Vietnam, Okinawa, Korea, and Japan, as well as many postings in the United States. He served with the United States Navy Seabees (CB-construction battalions), as a public works officer (chief facilities officer), as a civil engineering advisor, and as a staff member for the United Nations Command, Korea. He retired from the Navy as a commander in 1979. His military awards included a Secretary of the Navy Commendation for Achievement and the Legion of Merit.

Following his Navy work, Middleton joined the University of Virginia as its chief facilities officer for the next 14 years, responsible for construction and maintenance of buildings and grounds, planning, and construction. He was particularly proud of the work the organization did in developing highly competent staff in every trade through comprehensive training plans, licensing of staff, and the development of new staff through a formal apprenticeship program, the first of its kind at any Virginia public institution. Active for many years with APPA, the international association of higher education facilities officers, he was its vice president for three years, and elected as its president in 1990.

Following his retirement from the University in 1993, he continued his extensive work in conducting facilities management evaluations, both as a single member and a large staff of evaluatoirs for dozens of colleges and universities. His largest single consulting project was working with consultant Eva Klein, his development of a system for evaluation of required work for the upgrading of deficient facilities and needed new construction of long rage enrollment planning for the 17 member University of North Carolina. A $1.5 billion investment followed the completion of this project. Throughout more than 60 years, Bill Middleton was also active as a reporter, writer, and photographer. His published work includes more than 20 books and approximately 700 articles for magazines and newspapers over the years, accompanied with extensive photographic work. He was a long-time writer for such international railroad topics at Railway Age, Railroad Track and Structures, Railway Gazette International, and International Railway Journal, as well as such general publications as American Heritage, and American Heritage of Invention and Technology. While his work was largely on the subject of railroad history and operation, he also did extensive work in engineering, military topics, and travel. On occasion he worked with his family, including a travel guide of South Korea with his wife Dorothy, and a biography of Frank Julian Sprague written jointly with his son, William III.

Middleton's long and happy marriage of 53 years came to an end with the death of his wife, Dorothy, in 2009.

He is survived by his son William D. III, and his daughter-in-law, Elia Marina Castellanos Morales, who live in Livonia, New York; and his son, Nicholas F., his daughter-in-law, Andrea Klarman, and granddaughters Isabel Riquette and Evalina Dorothy, who live in Seattle, Washington; and his five siblings, Susan, Louise, Frederick, Elizabeth, and David.

For remembrances, we suggest contributions to support the Indiana Historical Society, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis. IN 46202-3269, which will maintain the extensive Middleton collection of railroad photographs, or the University of Virginia's Historic Buildings, University of Virginia, Attention: Gift Accounting, P.O. Box 400807, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4807. Gifts should be made in memory of William D. Middleton.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011, at the University of Virginia Columbarium, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Arrangements are by Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home Inc., 21 Big Tree Street, Routes 15 & 20A, Livonia, NY 14487.

To send condolences or share a memory, please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.