William Furlong was born in Seattle in December, 1930 to William and Ernestine Furlong, and passed away on May 4, 2015. Upon graduation from Shelton High School, Bill completed Aircraft and Engine Mechanic school in California, then joined the U.S. Air Force, and was discharged in January, 1955. Bill and Cecelia were married in 1956 and moved to Vashon Island in 1959. Bill earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Washington in December, 1958.

He began his employment with Boeing while a U.W. student, where he remained through his retirement in 1995. Bill always had a keen interest in space exploration, and transferred to Huntsville, Alabama working on development of trajectories for the Saturn V Apollo programs and subsequent successful moon missions in the 1960’s. The family relocated to the Washington, D.C. area before returning to Seattle and Bill’s work on development of information on satellites and their geosynchronous orbits, among other projects, in the 1970’s.

Bill was a scuba diver, and learned to ski when his children began skiing, a sport they enjoyed together. He earned his pilot’s license at the time of his retirement, sharing his pleasure in flying with friends and family. He looked forward to opening his hangar for the Vashon Airport Labor Day picnic.

Bill was predeceased by his children Kevin, Teresa and Michael Furlong, and is survived by his wife, Cecelia, his daughters Anne Furlong and Monica Featherstone, son-in-law Curt Featherstone and grandsons Kevin and Brett Featherstone, and our dear extended family. He is deeply loved and missed.

Please visit our online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com

Paid Obituary.