Obituary: William Richard "Bill" Gould

William Richard "Bill" Gould 1919 ~ 2006 William R. Gould passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2006 in Long Beach, California. He was 86 years old. The son of a railroad engineer, he was born in Provo, Utah on October 31, 1919. The first member of his family to go on to higher education, he studied engineering at the University of Utah and went on to do post graduate work in the United States Navy at MIT and Dartmouth. He served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II, supervising the engineering and construction of warships at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Following the war, he made his home in Long Beach, taking a job as a mechanical engineer with Southern California Edison Company. During his 44 year career with Edison, he rose through the ranks to eventually preside as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1979 to 1984. He continued to serve as a director of SCE until 1992. His most noted achievements at Edison were the construction of the nuclear power stations at San Onofre and the development of alternative and renewable sources of energy. He was recognized by many institutions for his commitment to the environment and the advancement of technology receiving many honors, awards, and prizes. He was deeply committed to the community he lived in and to his church. He gave his professional support to many charitable organizations and institutions of higher education. He served as a bishop, stake president, and regional representative in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His first wife, Erlyn, predeceased him by 14 years. They had been married for 50 years at the time of her passing. He is survived by his second wife, Mildred Johnson, a daughter Erlyn Madsen, sons Bill Jr., Gilbert and Wayne, a step-daughter Sue Ann Sanft, step-sons Randall D. Johnson and Charles Marc Johnson and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held in Provo, Utah on Monday, March 20, 2006 at the Edgewood Ward, 3500 North 180 East at 11:00 a.m. A reception for the family will be held immediately prior to the services in the same location at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions could be made in the honor of William R. Gould to the William R. and Erlyn J. Gould distinguished lecture on Technology and the Quality of Life, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, 295 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112-0860. (801) 581-3421.