William Paul Stockwell

William (Bill) P. Stockwell, of Burnsville, MN, passed away on March 24, 2019, at the age of 84. Husband, father, motorcyclist, and world traveler, Bill was born on October 24, 1934 in Hemphill, Texas, to Wilora Baker Stockwell and William Foster Stockwell.

Bill was preceded in death by his caring and devoted wife of nearly 45 years, Dorothy (Brooks) Stockwell. He is survived by his sons, David Stockwell (Judith Rich) of Maple Valley, WA, and Edward (Jennifer) Stockwell of Plymouth, MN; brother, John (Virginia) Stockwell of Austin, TX; sister, Sarah (Buddy) Stranahan of Austin, TX; and grandsons, Benjamin and Bruce Stockwell.

In 1946, Bill’s family moved to Africa as members of the American Presbyterian Congo Mission and settled in the Belgian Congo station of Lubondai in the town of Tshimbulu. Bill completed high school in Africa. In 1953, he returned to the U.S. and began studies at the University of Texas.

Shortly afterwards he joined the Air Force, and transferred to the University of Colorado. Still a student, Bill met Dorothy “Dodie” Brooks at a Unitarian Universalist social. Bill married Dorothy on June 24, 1961, and graduated with a degree in Mathematics in 1964. In January of 1970, Bill and Dodie, now with two young sons, moved their family to Minnesota, where he had a long career at Control Data Corp.

Although Bill spent his career in the computer industry, at his core he was a mentor and teacher, helping people one-by-one and drawing our attention to the bigger picture. He taught us that we are part of the whole world, not merely a neighborhood, and he showed us how to focus and work hard.

For his remembrance, he did not want a fuss; he just wanted everyone to carry on helping and caring for each other. After Dorothy passed, Bill was an active hospice volunteer. You may provide a remembrance of his commitment with a donation to Fairview Hospice.

https://www.fairview.org/overarching-care/home-care-and-hospice/hospice

https://www.fairview.org/giving/tribute-gifts

“The best portion of a good man's life: his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love.”

~William Wordsworth