Dr. William Bullock Stewart, Jr. DDS

 LCDR (Dr) William Bullock Stewart Jr DC, USN (Ret)

1926-2021

Dr. William Bullock Stewart Jr. entered into the Lord’s presence on May 9, 2021, at age 95.  “Bill” was born in Sternberg Army Hospital, Fort McKinley, Manila, U.S. Territory of the Philippine Islands, on April 24, 1926.  He was the oldest of four children born to Colonel (Dr.) William B. Stewart Sr and the former Mary Catherine Phillips.  As a typical Army “brat” he moved often spending his childhood in the Philippines, Hawaii, Colorado, California, Texas and Arkansas.  After graduation from Wichita Falls High School, he attended one term of college prior to enlisting in December, 1943, in the U.S. Navy.  His assignment as a hospital corpsman at Port Hueneme, California, in 1945, was followed by a Fleet Appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.  Bill finished his bachelor’s degree in Engineering at Kansas State Teacher’s College now known as Pittsburg State University in Kansas.  He met his lifemate Rosalie Merriman there and soon they wed in 1951.  Bill accepted a US Naval Reserve officer’s commission as a gunnery officer while he attended dental school at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.  Upon his graduation in 1955, Bill embarked on a Naval career that included assignments in New York, Guam, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme, USS Delta, USS Norton Sound, Vietnam, USS Long Beach, and NAS Point Mugu.  They homeported the family in Port Hueneme, California, in 1961 when the family included five children, with a sixth child added in 1962, and the seventh and final child in 1966.  When not at sea or in Vietnam, Bill served as a volunteer in many civic, fraternal and service organizations during his “non-duty” hours.  Examples of this include his service in the Seabee Chapel Choir for over fifty years with his familiar bass voice; many years serving as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout unit leader as well as on the District level; he was an active member of the Oxnard Masonic lodge No. 341, the Al-Malaikah Shrine Temple, and the Ventura Valley Scottish Rite for over fifty years.  Bill was recognized for his distinguished service and tireless contributions by the Hueneme High School PTA with an Honorary Service Award.  He was honored as the Hueneme Chamber of Commerce Military Citizen of the Year in 1974 as well as the Hueneme Chamber of Commerce civilian Citizen of the Year in 2000.  In Scouting, Bill received the District Award of Merit, the Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor, and the Silver Beaver.  He was a 32nd degree Mason and former Post Commander of the Tri Counties Legion of Honor Shrine Club.  Bill was recently honored by the City of Port Hueneme Historical Society with the “People Making a Difference Award”.  

He will be dearly missed by his relatives and the many longtime friends made through the years.  Bill was an exemplary husband, father, volunteer, and brother walking in Christ.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years-the former Rosalie Merriman, his parents, his two sisters-Emily Catherine (Dr. Gerald Mowry) and Mary Ellen (Dr. Roger Youmans), son-in-law Rex Johnston Sr. (Sandy), and granddaughter Rosalie Ellen O’Hara.  

He is survived by his brother Roger (Grace) Stewart; seven children-William Bullock Stewart III of San Jose, California; Sandra Stewart Johnston of Long Beach, California; Bunny Elizabeth (Tom Porras) Stewart RN of Scottsdale, Arizona; CAPT James Terrence (Carol) Stewart USN(Ret) of Springfield, Virginia; LTC Rosemary Ellen Stewart (Timothy) O’Hara USA(Ret) of Robins, Iowa; COL John Richard (Maria) Stewart USA(Ret) of Fairfax, Virginia; and Ronald Scott Stewart of Waco, Texas; 18 grandchildren-Alexandra Colman Conaway, William Bullock (Jennifer) Stewart IV, Shaena Alison (Brian) Walker, Lance  Arthur (Samantha) Stewart, Tyler Stewart (Marlena) Porras, Paul Allen Porras, Travis Aaron (Dara) Stewart, Dr Tyler James (Ashton) Stewart PhD, Capt Timothy Haddon (Harriet) Stewart USMC, Dr Katherine Lynn (Michael) Twitty DPT, Brenna Rose O’Hara, Daniel Patrick O’Hara, Erin Eileen O’Hara, Cavan Michael O’Hara, Rebecca Elena (Benjamin) Kreuter, Christina Isabel (Joseph) Rossell, Juliana Raquel (Garrett) Gustafson, and Veronica Damasceno Stewart; and 17 great grandchildren to date-Twylah Ann Stewart, Maizie June Stewart, Hayley Ann Conaway, Calvin Thomas Conaway III, Tara Lynn Conaway, Audrey Elizabeth Walker, Hanna Leigh Walker, Wyatt James Walker, Waylon Rockford Stewart, Talon William Stewart, Kalika Mae Stewart, Carter James Stewart, Mason Thomas Stewart, Noah Rugero Stewart, Jacob Felix Kreuter, John Samuel Gustafson, and Lincoln Everette Gustafson.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the organizations or charities Bill supported:  Shriners Hospitals, Ventura County Council Boy Scouts of America, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Navy League.  

A celebration of life service is scheduled for 11am on June 17th, 2021, at Camino del Sol Funeral Home, 200 North C Street, Oxnard, CA 93030, with viewing preceding at 10:00am-10:45am. Information on the reception will be announced at the service.

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