Colonel William King Moran Jr.

1923 - 2016

DURHAM, N.C. - Colonel William King Moran Jr. passed away Mar. 4, 2016 in Durham, N.C. at the age of 93. Bill, as he was known, by friends and family had been a resident of Croasdaile Village Retirement Community for the past three years.

Bill was born Jan. 10, 1923 in San Antonio, Texas to William King Moran and Lillian (Wood) Moran. With the early death of both parents, Bill moved to Wauchula, Fla. where he lived with his Aunt Bess Burton and Uncle Grady Burton. In 1941 Bill graduated from Hardee Senior High School and gained admission to West Point Military Academy. Bill graduated from West Point in 1945 as part of the US Army Air Corp now the US Air Force. Upon graduation in September, Bill married his sweetheart Gloria Carlton Clavel, who was born and raised in Wauchula, Fla.

Bill had an adventurous and varied career in the US Air Force. His first post was in Okinawa right as World War II ended. He then came back to the states and served as a flight instructor. The Air Force recognized his talent and sent Bill to Ohio State University where he earned a MS degree in Nuclear Physics in 1953. Additional posts were at the Pentagon, Defense Intelligence Agency during the height of the Cuban Missile crisis and an exciting four year tour in Bern, Switzerland.

In the last decade of his service with the Air Force, Bill was the Commander of two research laboratories; Arlington Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and Cambridge Research Laboratory at Hanscom Field.

After retiring from the Air Force Bill and Glo lived in Short Hills, N.J. for 40 years where he was very active in several non-profit organizations. Bill was known in the neighborhood as the man who could fix anything. He was often called upon to come next door and fix a leaky faucet or inoperable light switch. Bill and Go were avid travelers and took full advantage of retirement traveling to Europe, Africa, Central America as well as the American West.

Bill will be remembered for his love of flying, passion for all things mechanical and devotion to his family and country.

William, was preceded in death by his beloved wife Gloria of Durham, N.C. as well as his sister Lillian Anderson of Wauchula, Fla. He leaves his sister, Betty Moran of Covington, La. as well as three daughters, Robin Moran of Durham, N.C. Nancy Cooper of Athens, Ohio and Ellen Moran of Hancock. Bill leaves three beautiful grand daughters, Miranda Justus of San Diego, Calif. Dr. Emily Burnette of Nelsonville, Ohio, Natalie Cooper of Chicago, Ill. He also leaves three wonderful great grandchildren: Mia Justus and Quinn and Nora Burnette.

Bill's wishes are to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, the date and time are to be released in the coming months.

In lieu of flowers please consider a tax deductible donation to Boys Town, www.boystown.org 14100 Crawford St. Boys Town, Neb. 68010.