William Henry Stewart
Former Director of the Lubbock Public Library passed away in Indianapolis on April 13, 2013. Bill was born on April 15, 1922 in Oklahoma City, the son of William Henry and Lydia Reese Stewart. As a young man he played first trombone in the Oklahoma City Symphony, and jazz trombone in local dance bands. During World War II he served as a Bandsman in Company E 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Division in Africa, Italy, Austria and Germany. While in Rome he met his beloved wife Mina Piazzesi. They were married after the war in 1948 and moved to Oklahoma, where Bill earned a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Oklahoma. He was Director of the Muskogee, Oklahoma Public Library from 1957 to 1969, and Director of Lubbock Public Library from 1969 to 1988. He did extensive planning for the George and Helen Mahon Library building, part of downtown Lubbock reconstruction after the 1970 tornado. Expansion of the library was continued under his tenure, with construction of the Godeke and Patterson library branches. Bill will always be remembered as a loving family man, who delighted his children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces with his sense of humor and fun. He and Mina were expert bridge players, loved to travel, and hosted foreign students from Texas Tech. After retirement Bill became an avid tennis player, and was on the court almost every day well into his 70s. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Mina Piazzesi Stewart; brother Charles Reese Stewart and wife Sue; son William Henry Stewart and wife Lorie; daughter Renee Francesca Cole and husband Randy; daughter Silvia Patrice Gederberg and husband Tom; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his beloved little sister Patricia Jeanette Maxey and her husband Robert. Visitation will be Thursday, April 18 at 11 am followed by services at 1 pm, at Matthews Mortuary, 690 E. 56th Street, Brownsburg, Indiana. Interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lubbock Public Library or Lubbock Symphony.