Established April 15, 1995
University of West Georgia Disclaimer
Dr. Bill Maples made a difference in the lives of so many people, his wife, children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, colleagues, students and all of us, "his other family." Upon Bill's passing the quantity of beautiful letters sent to his family was overwhelming. Each letter echoing that Dr. Bill had created a forum for them, a place to find other people that were on the same journey.
Dr. Bob Parker said it so eloquently, "the key thing that Bill did, apart from providing some links to other sites with more medical detail, was to provide a means for people with unusual diseases to relieve their isolation."
Don Dickinsheet said, "there was not a bad bone in the MAN'S body. It is my hope that we will continue to be a useful and fun site where folks can express their pleasure as well as dismay."
We were all a part of what has come to be known as BILL'S WORLD. His sense of humor was magical. He had a "Flock of Wild Turkeys" , he explained that wild turkeys were persistent. He referred to them as "his turkeys." We referred to him as our "HEAD TURKEY". His belly laugh was contagious.
He had another side that would break down and cry when one of his "charges" was suffering or had lost their battle and had passed. When a parent wrote in about their child it tore at his heart.
Bill was so humble. He was humbled when six of us made a road trip to Carrollton, Georgia to visit him and his wife Pat for their birthdays. He wanted Jim, Valerie, Bruce and Terry to know it was his best birthday ever!
Bill Maples was a HUSBAND, DADDY, GRANDDADDY, FRIEND, SCHOLAR and a TRUE HUMANITARIAN.
A few weeks before Bill passed I visited him. He was so worried about our site. He gave me a message for our family. He loved us all and thought we were the strongest people he had ever known
REST IN PEACE DR. BILL MAPLES. YOUR BIG BEAUTIFUL FAMILY IS SAFE!
I LOVE YOU MORE! "<"grin">" "<"big grin">"
Susan
There has been a scholarship fund set up in honor of Dr. Bill Maples at the University Of West Georgia. If you would like to contribute please write the check payable to University Of West Georgia Foundation, in the reference line or on an attached paper note that the donation is for the Dr. William P. Maples Fund. Please mail to the University of West Georgia Foundation, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118
Update: 7 September 2008
Iam back from my yearly pilgramage to Carrollton, Georgia. It was bittersweet, it was the first time I had been back since Bill passed. I was so happy to see my dear friend Pat and she was thrilled for us to be there.
One of the first things she wanted to do was go the cemetery where Bill had been laid to rest, it was very emotional. The next day we went to the track where Bill ran three times a week. Pat had a bench erected in his honor. It is on the spot where he would rest and feed the fish. I sat on that bench and the view was gorgeous. We visited our normal hang outs, the coffee shop, Longhorn and of course The Waffle house. We had great stories to exchange. The story I loved the most was when Bill and Pat met. Pat's friend was in charge of the USO dances. She begged her room mates to go, The girls didn't want to go but finally gave in. Pat was standing off by herself when she noticed this young man on the stairs looking at her, he started to come down to speak to her and immediately fell down the stairs, as only Bill could do, he quickly picked himself up and walked over her and said, "I am already falling for you."That was so Bill!
I have included the pictures of the bench and Pat and his view.
