William Leonard Meusel

William L Meusel Jr (Bill) passed away peacefully May 22, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. He was born March 21,1936 in Baltimore, MD to the late William L Meusel and Edna E Meusel (Ortel). Bill was preceded in death by his parents as well as his sister Leona Grammer. He is survived by his loving wife Mary Lorraine Meusel (Ferguson) and his three children, Patty Clearwater (Steve Lenihan), Susan Sharp (Lance) and Kurt Meusel. He is also survived by his brother, Eddie (Margie) Meusel and his grandchildren, Katie Fingleton (Ryan), Emily Clearwater, Annie Clearwater, Benjamin and Annabelle Meusel, Leona and Amelia Masangkay and a great-grandson, Connor Fingleton.



Lorraine, the love of Bill's life for over 67 years provided tireless loving support during his last months.

Bill and Lorraine were childhood sweethearts and graduated from Dundalk High School in Baltimore. They were married December 1956. Bill went on to study Electrical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in Blacksburg, VA and was a member of ROTC. After graduating VPI, Bill joined the United States Air Force as a pilot in 1959 and flew many airplanes such as the T-28, T-32 and the C-121 Constellation, aka The Connie. After his honorable discharge as a Veteran in 1965, he became a test pilot for Bell Laboratories in Buffalo, NY. On a stormy afternoon in 1966 his test flight was grounded in Kansas City, MO. He applied to be a pilot at TWA and it was then he began his career as a commercial airline pilot. He flew many airplanes for TWA such as the Boeing 707, 747 and the Lockheed L1011. After retiring from TWA, he also flew for the Dutch Airline, KLM. He officially retired to Tucson, AZ.

Bill was a loving father and taught his children the value of hard work. When he wasn't flying you could find him in the garden. Bill loved gardening and the entire family was enlisted to help harvest, can and freeze the fruits and vegetables from the garden. He did an outstanding job supplying the entire neighborhood with fresh fruits and vegetables all summer long!

More than anything, Bill encouraged his family to travel and experience the world and different cultures. This special gift continues today, as well as the many memories created during family vacations.

Bill will be terribly missed, but his presence and the difference he made in so many lives will be cherished forever.

Services will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Arizona Veterans' Cemetery Marana, AZ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arizona Kidney Foundation https://azkidney.org/tribute-gift-donation and Resurrection Lutheran Church in Tucson https://orovalley.org/giving-resources/