WILLIAM B. ARCHER

ARCHER, WILLIAM B. July 7, 1923 - March 5, 2010 William B. Archer of Miami passed away peacefully on March 5th, 2010, at Baptist Hospital. He was 86 years old. Bill Archer succumbed to complication of treatment for leukemia. He was originally diagnosed in 2003 with myelodysplasia, a bone marrow disease, leading to leukemia in late 2009. Bill fought a positive, energetic, determined and courageous battle, coming so close to beating his illness. Bill was the most beloved husband to his wife Gloria, recently celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. He was the most devoted father to his children, who all survive him: Patricia Ann Archer of Miami, James Douglas Archer, and his wife Sandy of Round Rock, Texas, and William Bruce Archer and his wife Roxanne of Miami. He was a loving grandfather to Michelle Archer, Mackenzie Archer, Skyler Archer, Alexandra Archer, and Samantha Funk. He is also survived by his sister, Lynda Bader of South Carolina, many nieces and nephews, and preceded in death by his sister, Toni Mintzer. Born in East Point Georgia near Atlanta, Bill grew up, working to support his mother and sisters, in the Great Depression. As a teenager in the late 1930's, Bill was fascinated by airplanes and volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol, where he received his very first flying lessons. In high school he joined the ROTC and was president of his high school senior class. When he joined the Naval Air Corp in 1941, he entered flight school and excelled as an aviator. Earning and receiving his commission as a Naval officer, he proudly served his country in wartime as a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. After WWII, Bill Archer remained in the Naval Reserve and returned to Atlanta where he married Gloria Bruce, entered Emory University to study journalism, and worked for the Atlanta Constitution as a cub reporter. Quite unexpectedly, Bill was offered a job as a pilot with one of the new airlines forming after the war. Joining National Airlines in 1946, he moved with his new wife to Miami where they began their family. During his thirty-seven year career with National, and ultimately Pan American Airlines, Bill participated in the phenomenal growth of the post- war airline industry. He began his commercial flying as a copilot on twin-engine Lodestars flying passengers around Florida, Gulf and Atlantic coast cities and Havana; He ended his career flying the latest and most sophisticated commercial aircrafts, the DC-10, mostly to London and Europe. In the late 1950's Bill Archer served as president of the local chapter of the AirLine Pilots Association. Later he took a position as one of National's supervisory "check pilots". During this 20 year period, one of his duties included developing training programs and instructing company pilots on new equipment like the Locheed Electra, Boeing 727 and finally the DC-10. He loved his work and set a high standard for excellence. Bill Archer ea rned the respect and admiration of all who truly knew him, for his keen intelligence, uncompromising integrity, and dedication to always be the best he could be at whatever he did. He loved the western tales of Zane Grey, and the poems of Kipling, and Robert Service. He had a wonderfully wry wit, and was known for his engaging and entertaining speaking and story telling. He will always remain a strong and guiding inspiration to his children, family, and friends. For over fifty years, Bill was involved and participated in supporting Haven Center, and in recent years, Friends and Families of Sunrise Opportunities, serving in past years as treasurer. A celebration of the life of Bill Archer will be shared with a gathering of family and friends at 1:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday March 18th, 2010, at Van Orsdel Funeral Chapel, 11240 No. Kendall Drive, Miami, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the non- profit Supporters of Sunrise, Inc., 6101 SW 90th Court, Miami, Fla. 33173, and organization helping special needs children and adults. View this Guest Book at www. MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.