Bill Dissly
March 23, 1939 - April 22, 2024
Charles William (Bill) Dissly, 85, died on April 22, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado under hospice care after complications from pneumonia. He was born in Sherman, Texas on March 23, 1939, to Katherine Avon and John Calvin Dissly, and was the fourth of five siblings.
Bill grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma graduating from Tulsa Central High School in 1957, where he ran cross country and track, a sport he remained passionate about long after he was competing. He attended the University of Oklahoma and majored in mathematics, while running cross country and track for the Sooners.
Bill then served in the US Air Force as a navigator, primarily on C-130 transport aircraft. His time in the USAF enabled him to travel the world, and his training fostered an interest in both aviation and astronomy that he would maintain throughout his life. He left as a Captain in 1968.
Bill then pursued graduate studies in computer science at UT Austin until 1973. Here he found a discipline that was well-suited for his analytical skills and curious mind. His 30-year career in the computer industry saw incredible changes, and culminated with Cray Research, Inc., where he assisted in the installation of multiple supercomputers at Los Alamos and Livermore National Laboratories.
Bill moved to Livermore, California from Los Alamos in 1984 with Nancy Werner, where he lived until 2018. “Papa Bill” was loved by Nancy’s children and grandchildren. In addition to his extended family, Bill was passionate about photography and his dogs. He participated in many photo field trips around the Bay Area. Always a dog owner, he loved taking his terriers on rides around his neighborhood in a home-made bike trailer.
Bill and his dogs spent the last 5 years in Boulder to be closer to his son and daughter and their families. His genuine interest in people continued to grow as he got older. He was well known in his neighborhood and the Sunrise senior community, making it a point to learn everyone’s name, and making the rounds at each meal to say “hello” to everyone. He will be greatly missed by friends and family alike.
Bill is survived by son Richard Dissly and wife Lydia of Boulder; daughter Catherine Ryan and husband Steve Carano of Boulder; brother John Dissly of Tulsa; Nancy Werner of Walnut Creek, California; grandchildren Laura Dissly, Caroline Dissly, Olivia Ryan, Ling-Ling Ryan, Benjamin Carano, and Jackson Carano.