William C. "Bill" Hays, 64, Columbia City, died at 6 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008, in his residence.
He was born Jan. 14, 1944, in Torrance, Calif., to Eugene and Beatrice Maxine Smith Hays. On March 17, 1967, in Muncie, he married Judith Gall, who survives.
He lived in Wichita, Kan., for 37 years until moving to Columbia City a year and a half ago. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Ball State University, Muncie, and received his PhD. in sociology from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. He was director of the Gerontology Center and associate professor of sociology and gerontology at Wichita State University, Kansas. He also served as president of the Association for Gerontology and Higher Education.
He was on the swimming teams at the University of Illinois and Ball State University, and he was a member of the Huntington YMCA National Swimming Team. He also was involved in the development of the new YMCA building in Huntington.
Surviving are two nephews, Joshua Hays, and Nathan Hays, both of Monee,. Ill.; two aunts, Loretta Crist, Fort Wayne, and Mary Frances Will, Markle.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Hepton Union Cemetery, Nappanee, with Lloyd Wileman officiating.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw.
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Memorials to Huntington YMCA, 607 Warren St., Huntington, IN 46750.
Condolences may be sent to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
