Bill was born in Elkhart, the son of Edith (Marsh) and Glover William Rives. Bill graduated from Elkhart High School in 1946. He attended the University of Kansas until he was drafted in the US Army. He served during the Korean War and was discharged from active service with the rank of Sergeant in 1954. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1956 and returned home to work as a pharmacist at Rives Drug in Elkhart. He took over the store after the death of his father in December of 1958 until his retirement in 1977, when he sold the business. After retirement he spent his time golfing, helping fellow pharmacists with relief work and driving across the state to cheer on his beloved Jayhawks. He was a doting uncle who enjoyed visiting his nieces and nephews and their children and could often be seen working in and enjoying his yard.
Bill actively participated in the Elkhart community serving on the city council and as a member of the VFW Color Guard as well as the Lions Club and the United Methodist Church. He was a proud lifetime member of the University of Kansas Alumni Association and a donor to the KU Williams Fund.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard (Dickie) Rives, sister Margaret Lucile Duckworth and nephew William Benton Lutsenhizer. His life will be cherished in the lives of his family: sister Mabel Jean Branson, Gardner KS, nieces Debbie (John) Buchfink, Naperville, Il, Meg (Larry) Byrd, Overland Park, KS, and nephew Mike (Andrea) Duckworth, Prairie Village, KS. He also had 9 great nieces and nephews whom he made sure grew up loving the Jayhawks; Del and Jared Lutsenhizer, Nicole (Lutsenhizer) Stovall, Daniel and Haleigh Buchfink, Calen and Carly Byrd and Elaine and Keaton Duckworth.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of William Rives be sent to KU Endowment in support of School of Pharmacy Scholarships. Send donations to KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 or give online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow.
A graveside service will be held in Elkhart later this fall.
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