Wilber E. (Bill) Carley, 97, died October 26, 2018. He was born September 4, 1921 in Randalia, Iowa to Ulva (Davis) and George Carley. Graduated Maynard High School in 1938. Graduated from University of Iowa in 1942. November 29, 1942, he married the love of his life, Lucille O. Mueller. To this union two daughters were born, Barb and Dee. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps 1943 – 1946, WW II. Bill was employed by United Airlines in Lincoln NE 1946-1950, joining Lincoln Tour & Travel in 1950. He was manager when the travel agency became a division of First National Bank through 1979. Bill served as President of Lincoln Tour & Travel 1980 – 1989 when it became an independent agency. Following the merger with Travel & Transport, he served as President Emeritus until his retirement in 2009.
Business involvement included Board member and President of the Association of Bank Travel Bureaus, United Air Lines and Braniff Airlines Agents Advisory Councils, Air Traffic Conference/Travel Agents Dialogue Committee, Omaha/Lincoln Skal Club. Community involvement includes Cosmopolitan Club, State of Nebraska Representative to U.S. Tourist Office 1969, Chamber of Commerce Aviation Committee, Salvation Army, Children Museum Board, Security Mutual Life Board, Hillcrest County Club, Nebraska Club, American Legion. Member of St. Marks United Methodist Church.
Bill traveled the world in his many years with the travel agency. His favorite travel destinations were Switzerland, New Zealand and Hawaii, traveling to Hawaii over 100 times. He especially enjoyed the many family vacation with Lucy, Barb, Dee and their dog Princess. They visited many National Parks, many back roads, and out of the way destinations, just in case he wanted to take a tour group there in the future. He enjoyed playing bridge, fishing, golf, gardening and a joke or two.
Bill is survived by daughter Barb Carley of Lincoln, daughter Dee Moeller and husband Keith of Pender NE, granddaughter Tracy and Josh Houtz, Overland Park, KS; grandson Ryan and Mandy Moeller of Pender NE; grandson Drew and Tyanne Mischnick of Lincoln; great-granddaughter Ivy Lucille Moeller, great-grandsons Elliott James Mischnick and Cason Brooks Houtz; brother Harlan and Mary Carley, Bettendorf IA. He was preceded in death by wife Lucille, infant son James, brother Walter, sisters Josephine Readeker, Joyce Cronen and Birdeen Kerby.
Memorial service will be Thursday November 1 at 11 am at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 85th and Pioneers Blvd, Lincoln.
Memorials to St. Marks Foundation, Grand Lodge Scholarship Fund. Interment will be at Wyuka Cemetery.