Pro-life warrior, faithful friend
William E. “Bill” Oliver passed away at age 95 on September 25, 2022. He had attended our annual REACH fundraiser dinner just seventeen days prior to his passing. Showing up at our annual fundraising dinner was a given for Bill. He recruited a table or more of guests each year for as long as I can recall and enthusiastically supported GRTL, along with his wife Liz, for decades. In my talks with Bill, I remember his no-nonsense manner and unending zeal for protecting innocent human life. We at Georgia Right to Life are grateful for Bill’s friendship and longtime participation in our efforts to change hearts and save lives.
Bill was an original. From his obituary:
William Ernest Oliver, age 95, of Atlanta, Georgia passed away on Sunday, September 25, 2022. Born in Detroit on January 24, 1927, Bill was the fifth of seven children born to Ernest Francis Oliver of Detroit, MI and Felice Voss Oliver of Cincinnati, OH.
Bill was the loving husband of his wife, Liz, for 65 years, before the Lord took her in 2015 at 89 years of age. Liz and Bill were married on June 24, 1950, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Detroit, where they also attended grade school and high school together. They graduated from the Jesuit University of Detroit in 1948 and 1949. In the following years they raised nine children, seven boys and two girls, to whom they were dedicated all their lives.
As a young man, Bill proudly served in the U. S. Navy, where he earned the rank of Ensign at the age of 19. Some of his fondest memories stemmed from this experience and in retirement he often attended reunions with the shipmates who sailed alongside him on the USS Douglas H. Fox in 1946.
Upon completion of his tour in the navy, Bill attended Rensselaer Polytechnic and then the Chrysler Institute, where he graduated with a master’s in automotive engineering. As a young Chrysler employee, he also attended Wayne State University law school at night, from which he eventually earned a JD degree.
After 20 years at Chrysler, Bill moved his family to Atlanta, Georgia, where he founded International Business Consultants, Inc., a mergers and acquisitions company that brought him much success during his remaining professional years. He retired in 2010.
He was active in his church and in the Respect Life ministry there. Many of their closest friendships over the latter years of their lives centered around St Jude’s.
Bill is survived by his children: Michael Oliver (Julia), David Oliver (Mihoko), Paul Oliver, Mark Oliver (Jennifer), Joseph Oliver (Victoria), Mary Oliver, Trish Oliver (John DiPaola), Daniel Oliver (Kimberly), and Willie Oliver. He is also lovingly remembered by his thirteen grandchildren.