William Torneden

A celebration of life for William “Bill” Torneden, 85, Lawrence, will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Inurnment will be at a later date in Maple Grove Cemetery in Lawrence.Mr. Torneden died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.He was born Jan. 24, 1921, in Linwood, the son of William Philip and Elsie Faye Brock Torneden. He graduated from Linwood High School and received many technical certifications.Mr. Torneden served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He designed, built and managed the start up of FMC Corp.’s North Lawrence plant for nearly 40 years. He was a member of American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post 14. He received General Motor’s Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild national award for excellence in engineering, design and construction skills.He married Lelia Kindred on June 7, 1941, in Ottawa. She died April 10, 1996.Survivors include a daughter, Terry Lynn Durgan, Lawrence; two sons, William L., Irving, Texas, and Roger L., Los Angeles; six grandchildren; and friend and companion, Virginia Strong.The family suggests memorials to Douglas County Visiting Nurses Assn. or Midland Hospice, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.E-mail condolences may be sent to info@warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Torneden.