Posted by Terry Powers on December 19, 2022:

USMA 1949, Major USAF DIRKES, Sr. William E. "Bill" age 86, formerly of Washington Township and Cincinnati, Ohio, died peacefully at First Community Village in Upper Arlington, Ohio. Devoted husband of the late Bonnie (Stelzer) Dirkes. Loving father of Dr. William E. Dirkes, Jr. (Marifran), Dr. Elizabeth Lagnese (Tom), and Claire Hamilton (Matthew). Also survived by his grandchildren: Dr. William F. Dirkes, Jennifer Dirkes, Anne Dirkes, Joseph Lagnese, Timothy Lagnese, Rick Lagnese, Isak Lagnese, Dominic Lagnese, Robert Hamilton, and Monnett Hamilton; sisters Ruth Spilsbury (Hugh), Marialyce Schillinger (John, deceased), and Barbara Dirkes, all of California. Predeceased by brothers Frank Dirkes and Jim Dirkes of California. Bill grew up with five siblings in Los Angeles, California, and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Point Military Academy in 1949. Stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Bill was introduced to his future wife, native Daytonian Bonnie Stelzer, through mutual friends, who arranged a blind date. They married in 1952. Bill completed a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana and a Master's Degree in Engineering Management from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, Boston, MA. Bill worked in the area of materials development for the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, part of a group that developed materials used in the application of Stealth technology on military aircraft. After retiring from the Air Force at the rank of Major, Bill then pursued a related career for many years with Systems Research Laboratories in Dayton, Ohio. During those years, Bill combined a love of running, grape-growing, and winemaking into leisure pursuits that he continued to enjoy upon his retirement from SRL. Bill and his wife, Bonnie, were experienced Bridge players. During their retirement years, they played Bridge locally several times a week and traveled to Bridge Tournaments between Dayton and Florida, where they earned awards for their successful playing performance. In addition, Bill was a member of the Engineers Club of Dayton, and a Charter Member of "The Barn Gang" (a professional group that met each Tuesday to learn about the latest developments within the field of engineering and other realms of intellectual interest). Bill served in leadership positions within that organization. As well, Bill served on the board of the St. Mary Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating decent, affordable housing for the aged and economically disadvantaged living in southwest Ohio. Self-taught and proficient in the home-repair craft, Bill was particularly interested in the programs that would teach first-time homeowners household mechanics and basic repair techniques. A raconteur and never at a loss to recall a witty poem or a clever toast, Bill enjoyed penning essays in his later years, which his family collected for younger generations. As did his wife, Bonnie, Bill has generously donated his body to the Wright State University Medical School. Bill's life will be celebrated at a Memorial Mass at 1:00 pm Saturday, June 29, 2013, at St. Mary's Church, 310 Allen Street, Dayton Ohio. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to The St. Mary Development Corporation, 2160 East 5th Street, Dayton Ohio 45403; or to The Engineers Club of Dayton Foundation, 110 East Monument Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45402. Published by Dayton Daily News on Jun. 27, 2013.

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