Bill was the middle of three sons born to Herbert and Lenora (Logan) Fryback. Raised in Colby, Kansas (where he met his wife-to-be at the age of 8), he completed high school in Colorado Springs and attended Colorado College on a scholarship, majoring in biology. He was a talented diver on the swim team. As a soldier in WWII after seeing destitute street children, he was inspired to pursue a career in education.
Bill married Marilyn Perry while on a two-week military leave in 1943. Their family soon grew to five children. Bill taught biology, physiology and zoology and coached high school athletic teams. Eventually, he won a National Science Foundation Fellowship and earned a PhD in general science. He was always intrigued by what constituted an optimal learning environment and worked all his life in curriculum development. He retired as the Associate Director of Research and Biofeedback Services at the Behavioral Science Institute of Monterey, California.
Bill and Marilyn moved to Vancouver, Washington, in 1990, where they were active in their church and continued their long enjoyment of square dancing. In 1996, they moved to Willamette View, a continuing care retirement community in Portland, Oregon, located on a highpoint overlooking the Willamette River.
Bill was always an active participant in community life everywhere he lived. His sense of humor and genuine love of people made him the friend of all. His lifelong passion for learning and teaching was inspirational. By 1998, Bill had become full-time caregiver of his beloved wife who was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. He continued to visit her twice a day even after he could no longer care for her in their apartment.
In January 2004, Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed on 12 days after the death of his beloved wife. He is survived by brother Richard E. Fryback, Durango, Colorado; son Dennis G. Fryback and daughter-in-law Judy Fryback of Madison, Wisconsin; son Alan L. Fryback and daughter-in-law Addis Fryback of Macau, China; son Dale M. Fryback and daughter-in-law Gloria Fryback of Bridgeman, Michigan; daughter M. Lynn Reveal and son-in-law Michael Reveal of Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; daughter Beth A. Fryback of Bellingham, Washington; 10 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces in Oregon, Washington and Colorado.
