William “Bill” Fetherston

William “Bill” Fetherston, 85, passed from this life on November 26, 2011, with his two daughters by his side. Born on February 3, 1926, in Riverside, CA, Bill grew up in British Columbia, Canada, and graduated from McGill University with a degree in chemistry.He met his soulmate, Alice Achorn, while working for DuPont in Michigan. They married on November 5, 1955, and settled in Bellevue, WA, where Bill worked as an engineer for many years with Boeing. In the early 1970’s, Bill and a partner decided to start their own business manufacturing water skis. Under Bill’s direction, Composite Structures Corporation developed and patented the first honeycomb epoxy fibe glass water ski. Using this technology, EP Water Skis revolutionized the sport of waterskiing. Never one to sit idle, Bill spent his retirement years putting his engineering skills to work in new ways. He masterfully engineered a beautiful yard filled with rose bushes, created hand-stitched, stuffed “Billy Bears”, which he lovingly gave to friends and family, and mastered the art of microwave cooking, to the endless amusement of all.Bill was the consummate Renaissance man, enjoying art, music, history, fine furniture, and travel. To know Bill was to love a fine mind, an engineer’s sense of humor, and an enthusiasm for life that enveloped all in his path.Bill was preceded in death by Alice, and is survived by daughters, Mary Alice (Wes) Keysor and Louise Margaret (Rick) Horn, and grandchildren, Jefferson Daniel, Madison Elizabeth, Anna Rebekah, Joshua Ryan, Miric Logan, and Tielar Renee Horn.A memorial service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Medina, WA on January 21, 2012.