William Earl Switzer

William Earl Switzer, 82, died peacefully in his home in Corvallis, OR. His wife, Kathryn (Kate), and daughter, Sequoia, as well as Hospice Nurse, Erin, were with him as he closed his eyes for the final time on November 7, 2025. Will used his time on earth to explore and experience many and varied places, activities, ideas. He was born in Cleveland, OH., on February 2, 1943 to a first-time mom whose husband was fighting World War II in Guadalcanal. He spoke often of a rather idyllic childhood, sledding down horsetrails in the woods in winter and camping with his buddies in the same woods during summer ~ he still remembered the names of his fellow ‘explorers’. In the middle of Will’s Junior year in High School, Dad announced that he couldn’t take another minute of the winter weather on the shores of Lake Erie, and abruptly moved the family to St. Petersburg, FL. As soon as Will became eligible, his Dad enlisted him into the Navy Reserves. Over time, Will realized that these disruptions of neighborhood, education, and friends were ‘for his own good’: widening his horizons, saving him from being drafted into the VietNam War, and putting him on a track to meet his future wife. : - ) Once in Florida, Will finished school and Naval Service, then worked at Honeywell making gyroscopes for the burgeoning aerospace industry before attending college and trying out jobs as middle-school teacher, and Social worker for the State of Florida. Meanwhile, Kate returned to Florida, following paid educational leave from the St. Petersburg Welfare Department to get an MSW degree in Michigan. Whether Kismet or just good fortune, K and W were placed in the same office and felt an instant & mutual attraction. Within 6 months, they each quit their jobs, withdrew their ‘retirement funds’, sold their cars, bought a VW Camper van and headed out on an awesome 53 year adventure together. Over the years, Will developed a zeal for fast cars, many sports, woodworking, a land ethic for treating all living things as part of a connected and critically interdependent system. With rational, evidence-based thinking, Will formed a ravenous appetite for information about the formation and functioning of our Universe, the history of humans, and the future. He sought personal intellectual development from informed and articulate speakers/writers on various topics (Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, Sam Harris, Peter Higgs, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and more). With both skill & art, he created and built our octagonal house in the Missouri Ozarks, a magical home-birth there for our daughter, and finally a wonderful home in Corvallis which has been our ‘refuge’ for 45 years. He excelled in leadership and compassion during his career as a Social Worker, and in free time with political and conservation activities. In 1993, the movie Groundhog Day came out, and it became a fun family tradition to watch it every year (on Will’s birthday). During vacations & retirement, we backpacked into the wilderness of every mountain we could reach, and traveled our world with curiosity. Will is survived by Kate & Sequoia, as well as daughter Terri (from first marriage), ‘little sis’ Michele, both of whom reside in Florida, and Terri’s son, Andrew, who lives in OR.. Kate & Sequoia are planning an informal Open House for Friends and Family in June (possibly Father’s Day weekend?) in Corvallis. Details will be posted at this site when available. There will likely be music, food, and some surprises. We hope to be sharing lots of hugs and memories.

Tributes

William Earl Switzer

February 2, 1943 - November 7, 2025