William Rader

1916 - 2012

William E. Rader
Aug 21, 1916 - Jan 16, 2012
Dr. William (Bill) E. Rader, Born in Washington August 21, 1916 - January 16, 2012.
The Rader family came to Modesto in 1946, after he completed his doctoral degree at Cornell University, Bill was employed by the newly opened Shell Biological Sciences Research Center.  Bill worked at the laboratory as a senior staff scientist for 35 years.  In the late 1940s he had the privilege of conducting his research in the Shell laboratories in Amsterdam Holland and in Southern England.  He has been biographied on American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who, American Biographical Institute; International Who's Who in Community Service, Who's Who in the West and also in Who's Who in California.  An author of over 30 scientific papers, he also has been granted over 20 patents.  He taught classes at the Modesto Junior College 1973-1978.
Bill served as the county chairman of the March of Dimes in 1966.  He was the founding president of the Modesto Community Concerts, which over 50 years later still fills it's concert hall.  He founded the Modesto Affiliated Church Housing Corporation (which built Ralston Tower and Marple Manor in Modesto); and served on the board as president for many years.  His interest in housing for older adults enabled him to serve on the national board of the National Benevolent Association in St. Louis, and on its executive board.  He served for 13 years on the board of California Christian Home on Rosemead CA, and three terms as its president.  He has served on the board of directors of the Serra Residential Center in Fremont, CA.  Both Bill and his late wife Buni have been active supporters of the local Townsend Opera since its inception in 1982.  In the opera's early years they sang in the opera chorus.  For 12 seasons they produced and showed the super titles for the operas.
In 1972 he was asked to serve on the board of Retirement Housing Foundation in Long Beach.  During the years 1988-1993 he served as chairman of the corporate board.  During the thirty some years that Bill has served on the corporate board RHF has grown from a very small senior housing company confined to California to the largest not for profit provider of services for older adults and low income families in the United States.  RHF's 150 plus facilities extend from the east coast to the west coast of the United States plus Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  During his time on the corporate Board he has received the Board Member of the Year award in 1983, also the 1994 Trustee of the Year award from the Council of Health and Human Services Ministries.  During his term on the board he has had the privilege of serving on several local boards of projects sponsored by RHF.
Preceded in death by wife of 69 years Bernice Rader, survived by son Ernie Rader, daughter Eve Bentley, 4 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Franklin and Downs Funeral Homes.  There will be a graveside service on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Lakewood Memorial Park, 900 Santa Fe Avenue in Hughson, CA.  In lieu of flowers please send donations to Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, in remembrance of William E. Rader.
www.cvobituaries.com