J.W. "Bill" Mcandrew

J.W. (Bill) McAndrew, 88, of Wichita, formerly of Topeka, passed away Monday, May 19, 2014.

Mr. McAndrew was born in Midland, PA, and attended Lincoln High School before joining the Navy as a corpsman during World War II and in the Korean War. He met his wife, Dorothy, while on a trip to Chicago for a friend's wedding, and fell in love. They married in Seward, Kansas in 1947, and lived various places throughout Kansas and Texas. Mr. McAndrew began working for an oil company in southwest Kansas and then moved his family to Texas for better opportunities. After leaving the oil fields of Texas, he moved his family back to Kansas, and finally settled in Topeka in 1968 and began working for the State of Kansas Employment Security Division.

In the late 1940s, Mr. McAndrew was studying for his degree at Denver University, but he was called back to military service and was not able to complete his college degree. In the mid 1980s, he returned to Denver University and completed his B.A., an accomplishment for which he was very proud.

During his lifetime, Mr. McAndrew volunteered for the American Red Cross, and taught first aid and CPR classes. He also donated blood every chance he could. He was a weather spotter with local emergency services agencies in southwestern Kansas, and volunteered as a dispatcher for the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department. After retiring from the State of Kansas, Mr. McAndrew volunteered for various organizations, including the Veterans Administration in Wichita and at the Wichita MidContinent Airport information desk.

Among other things, Mr. McAndrew was a great fan of classical, big band, and jazz music. He could be found listening to Bach, Beethoven, Benny Goodman, and Bix Beiderbecke on any Saturday afternoon.

Mr. McAndrew was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, his brother Charles, and sisters Anna Mae and Sarah. He is survived by his daughters Rita and Shawn, and sons Mark (Mona), Kevin (Debbie), Brian (Linda), and Craig, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and brothers- and sisters-in-law.

The family would like to express sincere appreciation for the loving care given to Mr. McAndrew by the staff at Asbury Park and Good Shepherd Hospice in Newton, KS.

A private interment was held May 21.

A memorial mass for J.W. (Bill) McAndrew will be held at 10AM Friday, July 11, at St. Matthews Church, 2700 SE Virginia Ave., Topeka, KS. Reception will follow at the church.

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