Obituary of William Allen Emerson

William Allen Emerson, 95, of St. Petersburg, passed away peacefully May 10, 2017. Bill was born July 13, 1921 to the late Henry and Mabel Emerson and was married to the late Jane Stannard Emerson for 72 years. He is survived by his son, Buck (Suzanne) of Gulf Breeze, FL, daughter, Shelley (Robert) Moorefield of Tallahassee, FL, daughter Stacey (Michael) Wright of Dallas, TX, daughter Kimberly (Scott) Spicer of Jacksonville, FL, his eight grandchildren, Ashley (Ray) Parker, Casey (Jody) Heimos, Marshall (Julia) Emerson, Adrienne (Shawn) Emerson, Jake (Kristen) Emerson, Christopher (Taylor) Wright, Lauren Wright, and Hannah Wright, and 13 beautiful great-grandchildren. Bill was born in Columbia, TN and moved to St. Petersburg as an infant. He graduated Valedictorian from St. Petersburg High School, and went on to graduate from St. Petersburg Junior College, and the University of Florida. Bill enlisted in the Navy immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Upon graduation from flight school, he joined the Marines. After receiving his wings, he married Jane, the love of his life, in 1944 at First Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, in a formal Marine Corps ceremony. Bill became a Marine Corps flight instructor, and then saw active duty piloting B-25 Bombers in the Pacific during WWII. Their first child was born while he was overseas. After the war and finishing his degree at U. of F., where he and Jane lived in FlaVet village, he began what would be a 40 year career with Merrill Lynch in 1947. He was manager and VP of the St. Pete office before moving to New York City, Atlanta, and back to NYC. Bill became Director of General Services Division, Southeastern Regional Director, and eventually National Sales Director and a Senior VP. Upon retirement, Bill & Jane returned to St. Pete, which they always considered home. Bill had a heart for civic work & local economic development. Involved in many organizations, he was Chairman of the Committee of 100 and of the Pinellas County Industry Council; served as Chairman of the Board of St. Anthony's Hospital, a trustee of the Salvador Dali Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts; served as President of U. of F. Foundation 1990-1992, a Trustee of Oglethorpe University, & Foundation Board member for St. Petersburg College; Bill received the U. of F. Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989. Alongside Jane, true Florida Gators, they spent over 50 years supporting U. of F., attending home football games and building lifelong friendships. They, along with Merrill Lynch, endowed a professorship in the Warrington College of Business Administration, and they gifted the "Emerson Courtyard" to the Business School. In 2002, the Emerson Alumni Hall was completed and brought great joy to both Bill & Jane. They were proud to have three grandchildren graduate from U of F. Bill/Dad was an amazing man. Brilliant, compassionate, loving, hilarious, Godly, a true friend and wonderful Dad & husband. He made a profound difference in hundreds of lives in personal & professional ways, and you were a lucky person indeed if you had the good fortune to know him & call him mentor and friend. The family would like to thank FirstLight for their steadfast support, and the team of FirstLight caregivers who were remarkable, compassionate, and loving in Dad's care, especially the core team of Doris, Halina, and Inesha. Thanks to Suncoast Hospice, specifically Rhoni, Kim, and Matthew. Because of these folks, Mom & Dad were able to stay together their entire journey. A casual graveside service will take place at 10 am Saturday, June 3, at Woodlawn Memory Gardens, 101 58th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33707. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mabel Allen Emerson Scholarship at St. Petersburg College, or the charity of your choice. (St. Petersburg College, Attn: Scholarships, PO Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733, for the Mabel Allen Emerson Scholarship).