The College of Forest Resources is saddened by the passing of forestry professor Bill Stuart. Dr. Stuart passed Tuesday, March 5. Please keep Dr. Stuart's family in your thoughts and prayers. The obituary is below.
Dr. William Berton Stuart, 72, died at Northeast Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi in the early morning of Tuesday, March, 5, 2013.
Visitation for Dr. Stuart will be held on Saturday March 9 from 1 to 3 pm. A funeral service will follow at 3 pm. at Welch's Funeral Home in Starkville.
The final service and intermit will be held in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Stuart was a professor of Forestry at Mississippi State University. He retired from the faculty at Virginia Tech prior to accepting the position at MSU. He was a mentor and friend to the students and loggers that he worked with over his 49 year career. He instilled in his students, peers and children that the love of learning was never ending quest and that the world present lessons for us to learn every day.
In the classroom and out in the field, Dr. Stuart was the professor that was always armed with a story and a lesson. He was characterized by a distinct voice, quick wit and sense of humor. He was known for his toughness in the classroom, but kept up with scores of students, watching with pride as their careers in the Forest Industry bloomed.
He was named as one of the "25 Men Who Made A Difference" in the South's logging industry for the period of 1972-1997 by Southern Logging Times.
He was a native of Pennsylvania who grew up on the family farm. He earned his BS at Penn State, MS at Duke University and his Doctorate at Virginia Tech.
He is survived by his mother Mary Olive Longwell Stuart of Falls Creek, Pa. His wife of 48 years, Diane Messig Stuart. A daughter, Mary Margaret Stuart and husband Thomas G. Barrentine of Starkville. Son John B. Stuart and fiance Lauren K. English of Gaithersburg, MD. Son William E. Stuart and Liza Young of Sterling, Virginia. One grand-daughter Kristy Stuart-Barrentine, of Starkville. A Sister Nancy Poust and husband Charles of Pine Grove Mills, Pa. A brother Robert E. Stuart and wife Lori, of Falls Creek, Pa. Sister-in-law Joan Messig of Crossville, Tn. An aunt Caroline E. Longwell, of Brockway, Pa. Niece Caroline Poust Francis and husband Thomas of Springboro, OH. Nephew Robert F. Poust and wife Kristina of Port Matilda, Pa. Grandnieces Sara Elizabeth and Anna Sue Francis and grandnephew Anthony Eugene Poust.
He is preceded in death by his father Eugene Cromwell Stuart.
In Lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Mississippi Log-A-Load for kids, The Salvation army and the American Heart Association.
