Willard "Bill" E. Kemp

Willard E. "Bill" Kemp, 80, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 20, 2012 from his home in Houston. Bill was born in Massillon, Ohio on February 26, 1932. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1955 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked at B.F. Goodrich in Troy, OH and for ACF Industries in Berwick, PA and St. Charles, MO before moving to Houston in 1969, eventually becoming Vice President of ACF Industries and General Manager of W-K-M Valve Division. After retiring from W-K-M in 1979, he started his own consulting engineering firm, Kemp Development Corporation, which was instrumental in starting several new valve companies and a steel foundry. Bill was an inventor and designer, and held more than 65 patents in the aviation, railroad and oil industries.

Bill was a great music lover and he was in many church choirs over the years, and a member of the Houston Choral Society and the King's Men Barbershop Chorus. Bill loved piloting his single-engine plane, spending family time at his lakehouse, sailing, reading and taking long walks in the woods. He was a faithful member of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church for 35 years, serving in many capacities.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joan; four children - Paul Kemp and wife Ann, Carole Smith and husband Rob, Ellen Carter and husband Braddy, Susan Straub and husband Mike; and three grandchildren - Brian Kemp, Mark Kemp and Kaitlyn Straub. He is also survived by sister Barbara Miller and brother Robert Kemp. He is preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Evelyn Kemp, brother Eugene Kemp, and son, Kevin Kemp.

The family lovingly thanks Houston Hospice as well as Bill's longtime caregivers from At Your Side Homecare, especially Angela, Adam and Kemi.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 28, 2012, at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2400 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson Foundation of Harris County, 7457 Harwin, Suite 308, Houston, TX 77036, or Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe, Houston, TX 77030, or to the charity of your choice.