William Doswell Conine III

William Doswell Conine III, 72, of The Woodland, Texas departed this life on November 22, 2012. He was born at Arkansas Post on December 21, 1940, to William D. Conine and Alice Marie McGraw Conine. He is predeceased by his father, mother and his brother Benny Dole Conine. Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ella Jo Conine; daughter, Kimberly Alexandria Conine Morton and husband Dent of Birmingham, Alabama, son Christopher Keith Conine of Orlando, Florida, and four grandchildren David William Morton, Patrick Miller Morton, Margaret Spencer Morton and Benjamin Wilkes Morton, half siblings Bill Conine, Sheila Conine Forester, Renee Conine Peddicord, Marilynn Conine Anderson and his aunt, Janiece McGraw Collier, several nieces and nephews. Bill spent his early years in Gillett before moving to Texas at the age of 13. Bill achieved remarkable success in his educational pursuit, earning a BS, MS and a PHD in Fluid Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas. During his career with NASA, he was instrumental in developing the heat shield fluid utilized to coat exploration shuttles in order to prevent the shuttle from burning up as it re-entered the earths atmosphere. (Formula published in "Foundations of Fluid Mechanics," SW Yuan 1968). Bill continued his early career as an engineer for Tracor Engineering 1969-1973 and with Radian Engineering Corporation 1973-1976. In 1976, Bill was recruited by Mobil Oil Corporation, where he continued his distinguished career in executive management. He served on the Board of Directors for oil and gas worldwide exploration for 16 years. Bill represented Mobil Oil in negotiations with competing oil companies for contractual partnership agreements on ratio of expenditures to percentage of oil produced on drilling platforms in the North Sea. He retired after 18 year with Mobil Oil, in 1994 due to health, having been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Through out his life he always came home to Gillett, Arkansas, as a home town boy, in jeans and a simple t-shirt. He modestly downplayed his success in life. Bill's children and grandchildren were the true treasures of his life. He always had stories to tell of their escapades and of his cherished visits during football season. He recounted his stories with a sparkle in his eyes and a smile on his face. Bill loved to visit with people and was especially interested in genealogy and South Arkansas History. He could be found at the court house tracing ancestors some time during every visit home. Bill always had time to listen to old and new friends alike and enjoyed catching up on home town news. Bill established a scholarship endowment to be awarded to students in need. His desire was to help individuals gain a better life by receiving training and education at a trade school or college to enhance the opportunity for a more successful life. Bill understood the importance of education and he always wanted to help others attain their goals. Many people from our small community achieve great success and we are rightfully proud of each of them. It is the special ones that give back to their communities in an effort to help their fellow man. Bill was one of the very special ones. Pallbearers are Chris Conine, Dent M. Morton, David W. Morton, Patrick M. Morton, Benjamin W. Morton and Buzz Menard. Visitation will be held November 30, 2012 at Essex Funeral Home in DeWitt, Arkansas from 5-7 p.m. A service in celebration of Bill's life will be held at Gillett United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. on December 1, 2012. Interment at Gillett Cemetery. Family requests that memorials be made to Grand Prairie Historical Society, Gillett United Methodist Church or Gillett Cemetery Fund.