Bill Morris died peacefully on January 5, 2023, at his home in Longwood, Florida, surrounded by his loving family. Born August 24, 1928, in Brookhaven, Mississippi, he was the first of two sons to William and Pearl Morris. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1950 and served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He married Anne Bowie in 1952. After his discharge as a Captain in 1954, he began a 32-year career with Allstate Insurance where he pioneered automated underwriting. He and his wife moved several times, to Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and Chicago again before he retired as Assistant Vice President for Personal Lines Underwriting.
Bill then moved to East Greenwich, Rhode Island, to be a consultant for Metropolitan Property and Liability Insurance. After his wife’s passing, he moved to San Diego. He married Rowena Muller in 1992 and moved to Fairfax, Virginia, where he lived until moving to Longwood, Florida, in 2021.
Bill’s favorite times were spent with the families of Rowena’s three children: John and Debbie Muller, Valerie and Jim Walker, and Lauren and Eric Gibbs. The eight grandchildren dearly loved their Grandpa, whom they lovingly called “The King.” He never tired of talking with them, reading to them, or playing with them, everything from Jenga to board games. Eric (wife Sarah), Stephen (fiancée Jess) and Caroline Gibbs; Meredith, Charlotte and Jimmy Walker; and Sarah and Amy Muller all had a special place in his heart. The last big thrill in Bill’s life was the arrival of his first great-grandson, Eric Paul Gibbs III (Trip).
Bill loved to travel. He and Rowena traveled extensively in the United States and visited five continents. He loved golf, Ole Miss football, and jazz, especially Pete Fountain and Elvis Presley ballads and spirituals. He was an inveterate reader and a dog lover whom dogs instinctively recognized as a soft touch. With his wife, a Dame of the Order of Malta, he was active in the Order’s charitable activities. For years they made semi-monthly visits to a nursing home and helped with Anointing Masses for the sick. He was a Eucharistic Minister in his parish for a term and was an altar server at Arlington National Cemetery ‘s Old Post chapel for years.
Bill was pre-deceased by his first wife Anne and his brother Hal. He is survived by his wife Rowena, his stepchildren and their spouses, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson as well as several nieces and nephews and their families.
Shortly before he died, Bill said he had had a wonderful life and thanked God every day for all the years he had lived. He never expected to live as long as he did!
The Funeral Mass will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church, 1020 Montgomery Rd., Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714 on Monday, January 16th, at 10:00 a.m. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 15th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at DeGusipe Funeral Home, 9001 N. Maitland Avenue, Maitland, Florida 34761. Burial will be private at a later date.