Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm with the Memorial Service to follow at 2:00 pm.

Visitation & Memorial Service

Martha Lawrence

William Eddy

Cremation Center of Kansas City

Dr. William B. Eddy, educator, community leader, avid hiker, jazz enthusiast, and loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away on October 10th, 2023. Services will be held on Friday, October 13th , visitation at 1:00 p.m. and memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Village Church is located at 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kansas.
Bill was born in Parsons, Kansas, on July 29, 1933, and grew up on a farm in Havensville, Kansas. He graduated as valedictorian from Havensville Rural High School and went on to attend Kansas State University. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. Bill then attended graduate school at Michigan State University where he received a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology. After graduation, Bill was the Director of Research for the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce where he helped found the Agricultural Hall of Fame. He continued building his leadership experience by accepting an Associate Director position at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Bill then returned to his Midwestern roots and began an illustrious career of more than 30 years as an educator, mentor, and leader at the University of Missouri Kansas City. He held various roles including Harzfeld Professorship and professor of business, Dean of the Bloch School of Business and Public Administration (1986-1999), Dean Emeritus, Assistant to the Chancellor for Urban Affairs, Interim Provost, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Beyond UMKC, Bill was an active and influential leader in the Kansas City community. He was president and founding board member for the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program, Kansas City Consensus, and Do the Right Thing for Kids. He was also an elected member of the Kansas City Missouri School Board and served on over a dozen other boards for business and community organizations throughout his career and after retirement. Bill also consulted and lectured private and public companies on management and organizational development.
Bill was passionate about hiking and spending time in nature. He co-authored the pre-eminent guide to hiking trails in and around Kansas City, “Hiking Kansas City,” which has published five editions and is a staple for nature enthusiasts in the Midwest. His love for hiking took Bill and his wife Linda on adventures throughout the United States and the world. The couple were also avid supporters of Jazz Friends of the UMKC Conservatory of Music. They were enthusiastic fundraisers for the organization and traveled with jazz students to international competitions, founded a scholarship fund, and grew lifelong friendships with a generation of talented musicians.
Lovingly called “Pop,” Bill’s great pride and unwavering love for his family were constants throughout his life. He spent countless hours at sports events, dance recitals, and school functions supporting his children and grandchildren. Bill was a role model of compassion and strength, and his influence shaped the lives of all who knew him.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Linda; his children Bruce Eddy, Sarah Jill Eddy Hastings (John), Martha Eddy Lawrence (Steve), Laura Symon Browne (Tim), and Scot Symon; his grandchildren Evan Hastings (Jordan), Emily Hastings, Sarah Lawrence, Brady Symon, Griffin Browne, and Teagan Browne. He is also survived by his siblings Marcia Price (Palmer), Mitchell Eddy (Debbie O’Brien), Cheryl Figgs, and his nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Margaret Eddy, and his brother Thomas Eddy (Ginny).
Service information:  Friday, October 13th, 2023: 1:00 p.m. – Visitation, 2:00 p.m. – Memorial Service
Village Church 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bill’s name to:
Linda and Bill Eddy Scholarship in Jazz Studies The UMKC Foundation, 202 Administrative Center, 5115 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64112
Village Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208

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William Eddy Obituary | Cremation Center of Kansas City