William Ravenscroft

William John Cameron Ravenscroft, CChem FRSC FRSH, of Waco, passed away peacefully Friday, January 17, 2014. A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2014 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. A reception will be held in the parish hall immediately following the service.

Bill was born in Hooten, Liverpool, England June 26, 1936 to William John Ravenscroft and Greta Cameron. As a boy he was a member of the Liverpool Cathedral Choir, sparking his life-long love of music. He attended Liverpool Collegiate School and then Liverpool Polytechnic where he studied chemistry. At this time he also joined the Royal Air Force Reserve where he was Chief Flying Officer of 635 Gliding School.

He married Doreen Davis at St. Paul’s Church, Cheshire, England, on November 2nd, 1963. They made their first home in Drogheda, Eire. After completion of his degree, he worked first for Unilever, UK and then Mars, Limited in Slough, England. In 1976, he moved his family to the United States to Hackettstown, New Jersey and then in 1978 to Waco where he became the Director of Research for M&M Mars. Affectionately known as Willie Wonka by his children, he helped reformulate many confectionary products and develop new flavors for manufacture in the US including Twix, Skittles, Starburst, and mini M&M’s. He retired from M&M Mars in 1992 after a successful 27 year career.

If there is a theme to Bill’s life after retirement it is one of curiosity and his personal fulfillment of lifelong learning as well as helping others around him realize their educational and artistic aspirations. He had many hobbies and interests that included photography, bird watching, music, literature and history, aviation, drinking wine, collecting stamps, model trains and books, in addition to supporting arts and educational initiatives within the Waco community. He served as a board member for the Waco Symphony Association and the Central Texas Audubon Society, was President of the MCC Hearts in the Arts program, Past-President of the Baylor Lifelong Learning Program, and was an avid supporter of the Waco Cultural Arts Fest. In later life, Bill had rededicated himself to the study and conservation of all things that fly. As a member of the Audubon Society and the McLennan County Rare Bird Sightings Committee he spent many happy moments photographing and documenting the habitat and ecology of the birds of Central Texas. His love of aviation was shared with others through his participation in the FOGIES (Former Old Gliding Instructors Extension Society) and the Burtonwood Air Force Base Association, USA and UK. In previous years, he had gained his private pilot’s license and flew a Mooney, which he always claimed to be the closest thing to a Spitfire!

Bill was never one to shy away from an intellectual debate, especially if the topic was historical in nature. Over the past few years he enjoyed the company of the “Philosopher’s Club” where he was able to pursue the art of passionate conversation with kindred spirits. Bill committed himself wholeheartedly to making life an educational journey and endeavored to serve the Waco community willingly and generously. He was dearly loved and cherished by his family and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Doreen Ravenscroft; daughter, Julia Ravenscroft; son, Adrian Cameron Ravenscroft and fiancé, Kristine Foti; granddaughters, Emma and Morgan; and grandson, Henry.

Pallbearers serving will include Sam Allison, Watson C. Arnold, Jr., David Bass, Piers Bateman, Rick Bostwick, Jerry Campbell, Steve Cook, Jr., Ken Hampton, David Fornoff, Louis Muldrow, Jerry Powell, Jim SoRelle, Heyward Taylor, William Turney, and James Vardeman, Phil Croyle.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Baylor University School of Music student scholarship fund via the Dean’s Office, PO Box 97408, Baylor University, Waco TX, 76798 or the All-Steinway fund via the McLennan Community College Foundation, 1400 College Drive, Waco TX, 76710.