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William Dewberry Obituary
Dr. William "Bill" Crittenden, Dewberry Jr., a proud native of Pensacola, was blessed enough to reunite with his wife in Heaven on September 17, 2014. His family grieves the loss of his physical presence, but is at peace with his sudden passing.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. William C. Dewberry, Sr. and Olga Montanari-Dewberry; sons, Patrick J. Dewberry and Thomas M.C. Dewberry; grandson, Anthony C. Cassity, and devoted wife Mary Jane M. Morgan-Dewberry.
Survivors include three daughters, Jo Anne Hattaway, of Alabaster, AL, Juliette Krebs, of Perdido Key, FL, and Jeanne Marie Dewberry, of Seattle, WA; one son, William C. Dewberry III of Indiantlantic; FL; two son-in-laws, William Hattaway and Curtis Krebs; and five grandchildren, Shawn Cassity, Nichole Hattaway, Logan Dewberry-Reeves, William Hattaway, Jr. and Julia Duke Alverez; one great grandchild, Juliana Alverez.
After graduating from Pensacola High School in 1945, he attended Duke University and eventually earned his doctorate in pharmacology from Loyola University in New Orleans. As a young Pharmacist working at the Canal Street Walgreens of New Orleans he met the love of his life, Mary Jane and married her at the "Holy Name of Jesus" Catholic Church in 1955. Newlywed, the couple returned to Pensacola where he owned and operated Dewberry Pharmacy on Fairfield Drive until he sold the business and began Digital Data Systems. Understanding the needs of the independent pharmacist his computer systems were soon in nearly 100 independent pharmacies through the southeast.
After a successful second career in the computer business, he retired to his home on Bayou Davenport where he could reminisce about the happy times he spent flying his airplanes around the country, scuba diving, operating his ham radio, fishing or any of the wonderful recollections from active involvement in civic organizations. Some of his fondest memories was the time he spent as president of the Florida Pharmacy Association and his involvement with the NWF Archaeology Society, the Pensacola Historical Society and the Knights of Columbus.
Dr. Dewberry was an avid reader with a particular interest in history and genealogy, especially history about Pensacola. He loved people and always wanted to know where they were from and all about their family. Dr. Dewberry was a generous man with a truly loving heart and will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
Visitation will be held Sunday, September 21 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home (New Warrington Rd.) from 2-4 P.M. with rosary to start at 4 P.M. His mass will take place the following day, Monday, September 22 at 11 A.M. and will be held at Little Flower Catholic Church (Lillian Hwy.). He will then be laid beside his ever-patient wife at St. John's Catholic Cemetery (Old Corry Field Rd.).
The Family would like to thank the staff at Baptist Hospital for taking such great care of Dr. Dewberry. Their kindness helped ease the pain of such a great loss.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits
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Memories and Condolences
for William Dewberry
Kim Peters
October 6, 2014
Rest in Peace Mr. Dewberry.
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Joe Sellars
October 4, 2014
I'm sorry to learn that he has passed. May God comfort the family with fond memories of his life.
Sonja Douglas
September 29, 2014
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your Daddy...... what a wonderful man he was!!! Praying for you all...
Elaine Hardaway
September 24, 2014
Julie, I am sorry to hear of the loss of your father. He was a wonderful father who raise a wonderful daughter that care greatly for him. Be at peace knowing he is in the company of your loving mom and brothers.
Kim L.
September 24, 2014
My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Dewberry family. He was a wonderful man that will be missed by all that knew him. As Father Casserly said at Little Flower, he was a very spiritual man and you may take comfort knowing he is now in Heaven with Mary Jane, Thomas and Patrick. God bless.
Robert Hill
September 23, 2014
So sorry for the lose of your dad. My prayers go out to the entire family. I wish I could have been there for the service.
Llisa Jones
September 23, 2014
Julie, I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
NORMAN ROBERTS
September 22, 2014
I AM CHAGRINED TO FIND TODAY THAT I HAVE LOST ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS. THE ONLY
CONSOLATION IS KNOWING THAT HE WILL FINALLY FIND PEACE IN BEING WITH MARY JANE. GOD BLESS THIS FINE MAN.
Mary Ann and Ronnie Moseley
September 22, 2014
Mr. Dewberry was our pharmacist at Dewberry Pharmacy when we lived in Mayfair back in the '70's. He was a kind and compassionate man who went out of his way to serve his customers. Our condolences to his family on his passing.
Peggy Pescay Saines
September 22, 2014
My dear Cousins, Jody,William,Julie,and Jeannie,
At this moment I deeply feel your lost as you prepare to put your Father,Bill to rest, so that he may enjoy the riches of life ever after with those who have gone before him with God's loving embrace into eternal life.
I will miss your Dad's jovial spirit, especially his kind smile that gave you an individual feeling that he was glad you're here!
This morning I will be at the St. Joseph Abbey for Mass praying in thanksgiving for the many momemts I shared with your Dad as a little girl of 12 visiting him and your Mom in Pensacola.Also, I will keep each of you my cousins in my prayers and Communion today, and hope that your love and memories for him will strength you today and the days to come.
Memories are the threads that link our life journey on earth.
All my love and prayers,
Peggy Pescay Saines
lynn weston
September 22, 2014
I am so sorry to here about Mr Dewberry, you all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Lynn (Wells Fargo)
Monica Willis
September 22, 2014
Julie, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I know you will you miss him but hope you find comfort through all of your wonderful memories. The stories you have told about your families' time on Davenport Bayou are amazing!
B D
September 21, 2014
The Dewberry family wants to thank everyone who has reached out to us by every outlet imaginable to share your sympathies and wonderful stories of Dr. and Mrs. Dewberry. We can not express enough how much it was needed.
Dr. Dewberry was a great man. It's helped us so much at night to be able to read these and know for a fact that we weren't just biased by our unconditional love for him. He'd have been so proud and utterly tickled by the turnout.
We appreciate every second you've taken to keep him and the surviving family in your thoughts and prayers. You've all gone above and beyond. We won't be able to ever thank you enough for the comfort you've provided. It's definitely been a learning experience. Let us all strive to be more like Dr. and Mrs. Dewberry and touch the lives of all around us.
John Armentrout
September 21, 2014
I meet your dad Julie with you and Curtis at the grand Marlin at Sunday Brunch. I know your love for him and I am sure you'll will miss him greatly. God Bless you and Curtis any your whole family in your loss......
Vinnie Serafino
September 21, 2014
Jody, Willie, Julie, and Jeanne
I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad. May you find comfort in the memories of him knowing he was a caring and generous person. He spoke very proudly of you all when I would see him at Sunday evening services at Little Flower Church. I enjoyed talking with him because he was knowledgeable, funny, and positive whatever the topic. May he rest in peace and may God bless you and your families. You will be in my thoughts.
Mark Gronau
September 21, 2014
I really enjoyed getting to know Dr. Dewberry over the 2 trips I made with Jeanne to Pensacola. He had so many fun and interesting stories to tell over the course of his full life. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys...
Mike Aymond
September 21, 2014
As a longtime friend of the Dewberry family, I am saddened to hear of the loss of Mr. Dewberry, but at the same time proud to have known a man who lived his life so well. A successful businessman who loved his wife and children more than anything. Truly a unique individual, “Big Bill” was a nerd long before it was cool to be a nerd, with technical expertise that was beyond my personal understanding and an ability to forecast changes and stay one step ahead of trends. A visit to the Dewberry home on Bayou Davenport included the gardens and menagerie that his beloved Mary Jane loved and cared for, of course all the Dewberry children involved in a myriad of activities, and there amidst what to some might appear chaos would stand Mr. Dewberry, calm, relaxed and self-assured with a big smile on his face. Some say success is knowing how fortunate we really are. Mr. Dewberry seemed to have that ability. My sincerest condolences to the Dewberry family, I know he will be missed
Ceri
September 21, 2014
Dearest Julie, Curtis,Jodie, Billie, Jeanie, Will and all of the family my thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Words are never enough at a time of such loss but he is with you Mom and finally they are together, I am glad I was able to visit with him on my last trip to Pensacola and I have many fond memories of them both during the time I spend with them and you and other members of the family. You are all in my prayers with much love and kisses, Ceri Annxxxx
Ceri Ann
September 21, 2014
Dearest Julie, Curtis,Jodie, Billie, Jeanie, Will and all of the family my thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Words are never enough at a time of such loss but he is with you Mom and finally they are together, I am glad I was able to visit with him on my last trip to Pensacola and I have many fond memories of them both during the time I spend with them and you and other members of the family. You are all in my prayers with much love and kisses, Ceri Annxxxx
Bert Roberge
September 21, 2014
Mr. Dewberry was a wonderful person. He always had a smile and a warm personality whenever I came by to visit his son William. I remember him always offering food and drink whenever I visited, and Mrs. Dewberry always did the same. We used to converse about computer programming with the old dBase language, and he would always take time out of his busy schedule to talk with me and encourage me early in my career. What a wonderful and caring person that will be dearly missed. People like him are very hard to come by - one in a million. My thoughts and sympathies go out to Jody, Julie, Jeanie, and Willy - and wish you all the best during these trying time.
Mark Miller
September 21, 2014
My prayers go out to the entire Dewberry family. I can not tell you how many times Dr. Dewberry went above and beyond to assist my family in the middle of the night while one of us was sick. He would open up the pharmacy without any hesitation and "make us all better". He was a true and beloved friend of my family. Mark Miller (Bill and Barbara Miller and family)
Adrianne, Bill & the Gronau family
September 20, 2014
Though we've never had the pleasure to meet Dr. Dewberry, we know he must have been a very special man to have raised such a wonderful daughter. We love Jeannie and we are so happy she is a part of our family.
Gary & Laura Nickerson
September 20, 2014
Julie, we are sorry for your loss. Our prayers for your family.
Geoffrey Hall
September 20, 2014
My Dear Friends,
I am sorry to hear of your father's passing. Your parents raised some fine children, and I would like to see you all, again. Contact me anytime.
Ronnie Poole
September 20, 2014
I loved you're father and mother. And you're whole family. Sorry for you're loss. God bless.
September 20, 2014
My heart aches for your family. I am sending prayers and thoughts your way. He will always be in your heart and his spirit will be guiding each of you everyday.
Peace,
Susie Dawson
Andy and Suzanne Rau
September 20, 2014
Jody, William, Jeanne and Julie
Our deepest sympathies on the passing of your Dad.
Truly and wonderful person with many talents. Yet none greater than his love of family. As you move through this time in your life. Our family is keeping you in our prayers.
My memories and that of my brothers of growing up with your family, will be some of the best.
Our summer visits were always looked forward to. Your mom for her laughter and your dad for his many talents. Your dad was a strong presence in my life during the times I was with him. I cant even begin to imagine the influence and presence he had in your lives. He will be missed but he will be remembered.
May the Peace of our Lord comfort and sustain All of you. And the Light of your Dad and Mom help guide you always.
Andy and Suzanne Rau
September 20, 2014
Jody, William, Jeanne, Julie,
Our deepest sympathies on the passing of your dad. He was truly a wonderful person, with many talents. I will always remember him and your mom as kind, generous, and loving people. I will cherish the memories of our family visiting you guys once or twice a year. We always looked forward to seeing your parents and you guys each time. Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary Jane and you all ( our Cousins ). I along with my brothers will carry the wonderful memories of your dad and mom with us until we meet them again.
Stay Strong!
And know the Peace of our Lord is with you and all your Family!
And the light of your Parents will be guiding all of you Always!
Truly Blessed having your Dad and Mom in MY life!
September 19, 2014
Juliette 'Julie', you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during the passing of your father. I pray that you will find comfort in remembering the wonderful years, times, laughter and celebrations shared together, especially as daughter and father. These you will cherish forever, I am sure. His legacy will live on through those who knew and loved him dearly." Be encouraged. Saundra P. Bell (Colleague/Pensacola, FL)
Teri Gronau Eschrich
September 18, 2014
Please accept my deepest condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with Jeanne Marie and her family at this most difficult time.
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