William Ogden Derr

1926 - 2017

DERR William Ogden Derr, 91, of Jacksonville, passed away December 17, 2017. Born on February 18, 1926 in Clearwater, FL, to Phaon and Amelia Ogden Derr, his family moved to Philadelphia, PA after the Depression and lived in Bala Cynwyd, PA, where he attended Lower Merion H.S. (class of '43). He joined the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Cadet during WWII, in flight training until the end of the war, after which he left the service to attend Swarthmore College. He started his successful career in sales with the Pioneer Belt Co. in Philadelphia. He married Thomasine Gleason of Wichita, KS in 1959 and moved to Chicago, IL in 1960. There he raised his family, started his own men's leather goods business, and became VP of Sales for the Humphrey Leather Goods Company. He was an avid boater, spending time with his family on the inland waters of northern IL and Lake Michigan prior to retiring and moving to Jacksonville, FL in 1973. He was a proud Looper, completing the circumnavigation of the Eastern US by way of the Erie Canal and Mississippi River. He and his family spent many memorable years cruising the East Coast as well as the Bahamas and Keys, living on their boat Tobi III for extended periods. He was a Founding Member of the Jacksonville Commodores League, an organization that serves to help Jacksonville grow and prosper by promoting the city to business leaders and investors. He served as a Commissioner of the Florida Inland Navigation District, where he secured funding for various marine projects, including the marina at Metropolitan Park. He was an Honorary Life Member of The Florida Yacht Club, where he made many lifelong friends. Preceded in death by his two brothers, Phaon Jr. and Ralph, Mr. Derr is survived by his loving and caring wife of nearly 59 years, Thomasine; his children, CDR William Derr, Jr., USN, ret. (Kelly), Robert Derr (Carol), Lisa Archer (Stuart), Susan Grich (Thomas); his grandchildren, Jennifer, Ryan, Monica, Cody, Christopher, Caroline, Katherine, and Elizabeth; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He lived a full, beautiful, and adventurous life. William's memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2018, at Christ Episcopal Church of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Funeral arrangements under the care of Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, FL.