Thomas W. "Bill" Musgrave

Thomas William "Bill" Musgrave, 89, of Sunbury, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2011. Born in Athens, Ohio, to the late Howard Leslie Musgrave and Lena M. Gold, he spent most of his youth in Troy, where he graduated from Troy High School in 1941. He was deployed to Europe in the final days of WWII and was discharged from the US Army as a Corporal in 1944. He married Donna LeVerne Robbins in 1947 and graduated with a BS in Business Administration from The Ohio State University in 1951. Bill's career began in Columbus with North America Aviation as a purchasing agent, where he won accolades for his ability to cut costs. In 1965, he moved his family to Southern California to work for the aerospace company, Autonetics, from which he retired in 1972. Bill was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Club. He loved fishing of all kinds, saltwater, Lake Erie, boat or shore, and passed this onto his sons. His real passion was for pets and animals of all kinds: dogs, cats, birds, horses, goats, and more. He is remembered by his family for his spirited family camping vacations, his cooking abilities, and his love of the outdoors. He was very active with AA, served as a mentor to many, and maintained sobriety until the end of his life. With a renewed focus on his spiritual life in his later years, he became a member of the Calvary Church in Julian, California, and the Vineyard Church in Sunbury where he was very active with the church's social services. Bill returned to the Columbus area in 2003, to be close to his son, Dan, and his family. In 2007, he entered Country View of Sunbury nursing home. He was very congenial and many of the staff were very fond of Bill. In addition to parents, he is preceded in death by sister Mary Eileen. He is survived by daughter, Cheryl (Charles); sons, David (Sheri), Michael and Daniel (Susan); former wife, Donna; and grandchildren, Erin, David, SSG Thomas Musgrave (US Army), Nicole, Brian, Amanda, Kevin and Dylan; great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Alexandra. His family is very grateful for their father's life and the upbringing he provided. Family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011 at the RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME AT POWELL, 450 West Olentangy St., Powell, OH 43065, (614)-792-1471, where a Memorial Service will follow at 7 p.m. (The funeral home is located on W. Olentangy St./Powell Rd./SR 750 1/4 mile east of Sawmill Parkway.) Private family burial will be observed. Donations can be made to Alzheimer's Association , Central Ohio Chapter, 1379 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215, 800-272-3900, or the Humane Society of Delaware County, 4920 SR 37-East, Delaware, OH 43015, 740-369-7387. Send condolences for the family to: www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com.