William K. Esler

William Kenneth ”Bill” Esler was reunited in death with his sweetheart, Mary, on June 22, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Bill was born on September 25, 1930 in Sawyerwood, Ohio to Grace Salkheld Esler and Harrison Norris Esler, the eighth of twelve children. Growing up in a large family during the Great Depression, the Eslers met life head-on with humor and determination. At Springfield High School, Bill excelled in academics and sports. He lettered in football, basketball, and track, and was recruited to play football at the University of Miami in Ohio where he played for the legendary Woody Hayes. Bill was inducted into the Russ Patuck Sports Hall of Fame at the high school in 2011. After a career ending injury, Bill left college to join the army, and served in Korea and Japan where he worked as a surveyor. Returning from the war, Bill went to work and completed his education using the G.I. Bill at the University of Akron and worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Soon after he met his future wife, Mary Brown, at a dance at the Moonlight Gardens. It was love at first sight. They were married on January 22, 1954, and began their family soon after. While living with his family in Akron Bill built two houses for them with the help of his brother, Boyd.

Bill began his professional career as a mathematics and science teacher and football coach in the Akron Public School System for nine years, but returned to graduate school at Kent State University, to earn an M.S. in school administration and a Ph.D.in science education. In 1968 Bill relocated the family to Orlando, Florida to join charter faculty of Florida Technological University, now the University of Central Florida.

Bill distinguished himself as both a teacher and a researcher. Early in is university career he continued to work with teachers in schools to promote inquiry science instruction. He received a number of grants from the National Science Foundation to support this work. He was active in a number of professional organizations, and regularly presented at state and national conferences. He served as the founding President of the Florida Association for the Education of Teachers of Science in 1982.

In addition to his teaching he published numerous journal articles, and authored six books. Teaching Elementary Science, that he co-authored with his wife, Mary, has been published in eight editions with an additional version published in Japanese. An avid history buff, he also published The Day the Sparrow Died and the Civil War Began, an account of a small party of Union sailors who set out to sink a Confederate ironclad.

Bill was awarded Florida’s Outstanding Science Educator Award in 1980 from the Florida Association of Science Teachers and an award for Excellence in Research from the College of Education in 1988. In addition to teaching he served as the Chairman of the Educational Foundations Department from 1980-1987. When he retired he was awarded Professor Emeritus from the University of Central Florida in 1990.

Retirement afforded the Eslers more time to do the things they loved best: grand parenting and travelling the world. Bill loved spending time with his grandchildren and set out to make the perfect playground in the backyard, affectionately called “Willy World” by the family. In between visits with the grandkids Bill and Mary travelled the United States and the beyond, visiting every continent with the exception of Antarctica. One of Bill’s prize possessions was a map of the world with pins marking all of the places they travelled throughout their lives.

With all of his accomplishments, Bill always remained grounded and connected to his family and the friends he grew up with. Even as he battled Alzheimer’s family and friends reached out to the family to check on him and share how much he meant to them throughout their lives. “Bill always remained Bill”.

Bill leaves behind three children, Jennifer (Dan) Reeves, Kathleen (Kevin) Conyers, and Loyd (Anne DeWitte) Esler, and eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren, brother Max, Akron; sister, Bernadette and sister-in-law Velma Massey also of Akron and a number of beloved nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 6 at Aloma United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Arrangements under the direction of Heights Funeral Home, Houston, TX.