FAYETTEVILLE — William Alton Drewry

departed this life June 23, 2020. He was born Oct. 23, 1936, to Charlie Clarence and Cathleen Ford Drewry in Dyess, Ark.

Bill was a lifelong Razorback who was very proud of his alma mater, the University of Arkansas Fayetteville.

Bill received his BSCE (1959) and MSCE (1961) degrees from the University of Arkansas. He went onto Stanford University and earned his Ph.D. in environmental engineering in 1968. He taught at the University of Arkansas and then onto the University of Tennessee Knoxville for eight years.

Bill then spent 32 years at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., as chairman of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, associate dean of the College of Engineering and Technology and then as professor as well as serving on various university committees.

He loved his work and was always ready to assist the students. He treated everyone with respect and impartiality as was consistent with his Professional Engineering Code of Ethics. Bill retired in 2008 but continued on a part-time basis as student advisor in the Civil and Environmental Department until 2012.

He was a registered professional engineer in Arkansas, Tennessee and Virginia; held various offices in AWWA, NSPE, the Tidewater Chapter as well as the Virginia Chapter of VSPE. He was especially proud of his association and working with Ms. Alice Coles, president of Citizens for Social Justice of the Bayview Community on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. In 2000, along with Sarah Amthor, P.E. and Paul Bull, P.E., and his graduate environmental engineering students, they produced a water and wastewater feasibility study for the community. It was a major component of the Community Action Plan to provide potable water and wastewater collection, treatment and disposal for Bayview. As Alice Coles stated, “some people have lived and died here and never flushed a stool.”

He received numerous awards and accolades during his professional career. He was a member of Chi Epsilon as well as the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Nancy G. Miller of Fayetteville, Ark.; children William B. Drewry of Atlanta, Ga., B. Cathleen Drewry of Portsmouth, Va., Leslie A. Currey (Brian) of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Christopher G. Drewry of Springdale, Ark., and Benjamin J. Drewry of Austin, Texas; grandchildren Emily G. Drewry, William C. Drewry, John F. Drewry, Alice E. Currey, Eleanor A. Currey, Colin H. Grieve and Charlotte C. Grieve; sisters Erma Brooks of Clarksdale, Ark., and Marjorie Hamilton of Helena, Ark.; brother Gene Drewry of Cheney, Wash.; as well as others.

As per his wishes, he was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at a later date. Memorial services will be held in Fayetteville, Ark., and Norfolk, Va., TBA due to the Covid-19 virus. To leave an online tribute, please visit www.nelsonberna.com.