Larkspur Conservation – Nashville, Tennessee

Obituary

On March 28th, William “Bill” Wolters died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 66, with confidence that he would spend eternity with his Savior, Jesus Christ.

Battling Sarcoma for ten years, Bill was a warrior who remained active until the last few weeks of his life despite multiple surgeries, chemo, and radiation.
 
A native of Fennville, Michigan, Bill earned a BS from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, an MS from Tennessee Technological University, and a PhD at Purdue University in 1981.  After post-doctoral research at Purdue, he became Assistant Professor of Fisheries at Louisiana State University where he patented the process for producing triploid catfish.  

Bill joined the USDA Agricultural Research Service in 1991.  He served as the Director and Research Leader at the Catfish Genetics Research Center in Stoneville, Mississippi until 2003, developing genetically improved catfish for production.  He then moved to Franklin, Maine where he was the designer and Director of the National Cold Water Aquaculture Center, built to enhance the profitability and production of Salmon and Arctic Char.  Bill enjoyed getting to know the local fish farmers both in Mississippi and in Maine.  Many of his colleagues and the younger scientists who worked with him praised his great mentorship and the encouragement he gave them for both their career and life goals.
 
Bill’s passion outside of work was winemaking and sharing the fruits of his labors with friends and family.  After his retirement in 2016, he moved with his wife to the Nashville area where they had a farm with Arabian horses and chickens.  He loved being with his five grandchildren, teaching them to ride the horses and going to all of their sporting events and recitals.  His gallant fight to live was fueled by his desire to watch them grow up.

Bill was preceded in death by his father Marvin Benjamin, and his mother Dorothy Mae.  He is survived by his wife Susan of 43 years, his son T.J. (Martha Jane) Wolters and his daughter Megan (Tyler) Thompson.  Also surviving are his grandchildren James, John Spears, Melissa Rhodes, and Benjamin Wolters and Piper Thompson.  His brother, Tom Wolters, resides in Michigan as do many cousins.

Bill was buried at the Larkspur Conservation at Taylor Hollow, Tennessee on April 1, 2020 with his immediate family and his pastors present.  Memorial gifts may be given to Graceworks Ministries in Franklin, Tennessee or the deacons fund at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville.