John William "Bill" Asher, 96, of West Lafayette, IN, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, IN.
A 7th generation Hoosier, he was born on April 12, 1927 in Gary, IN to the late Floyd Gaylord and Ruth (Williams) Asher. Bill went to grade school during the Great Depression and high school during WWII. He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School where his father was the Principal. In 1943, at 16 years old, he worked shift work at the Steel Mill working on the open-hearth labor gang, working 4-12, 12-8, and 8-4 shifts and in 1944, he worked on the mason labor gang, working 60 hours per week.
At the end of WWII, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy at 17 years old. At the age of 19, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class while stationed in Washington D.C. Following his honorable discharge, he attended DePauw University, earning his Bachelor Degree in Psychology in 1950. Bill then transferred to Purdue University where he earned his Master Degree in 1951 and his PhD in 1955.
In 1955, Bill married Katherine Collyer. The couple had four children. Katherine preceded Bill in death in 1995 after 40 years of marriage. Bill then married Dorothy Alford in 1997 and they had been married for 27 years.
From 1956 – 1960, Bill worked at the United States Office of Education in Washington, D.C. and taught part time at American University and the University of Maryland. He also taught at the University of Pittsburgh from 1960-1966 and Sabbatical at Harvard University, Fellow Computing Center, and one semester at Universidad Central Quito, Ecuador. He also taught part time at the University of Louisville, University of Hawaii and the University of Colorado.
In 1966, Bill went to Purdue University as a Professor of Education and Psychology. He authored one book, co-authored two, and one with the University of Oxford Press. He wrote and co-wrote about 100 journal articles, and taught Research Methods, Statistics and Measurement. Bill retired in 2003 as a Professor Emeritus of Education and Psychological Sciences at Purdue University.
Bill was a Fellow in the American Psychological Association, Association of Psychological Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Educational Research Association. He was also the President of the Division of Education Psychology for the American Psychological Association.
Bill was very proud of his heritage. In 1778, his 3rd and 4th great-grandfathers were with George Rogers Clark during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, the 4th generation was killed in the war and the 3rd went on to farm in Louisville, then moved to Owen County in 1830. The family continues to farm in that area.
He enjoyed ballroom dancing, playing Bridge and international travel. He has traveled to Canada, through all of Central America, Europe, Asia, China and Japan. Bill has also traveled extensively throughout 49 of the 50 states. He also enjoys reading non-fiction books.
Along with his second wife, Bill is survived by four children and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
No services will be held at this time. A celebration of life is being scheduled for a future date. Bill will be interred next to his first wife Katherine in Sand Ridge Cemetery in West Lafayette, IN.
A 7th generation Hoosier, he was born on April 12, 1927 in Gary, IN to the late Floyd Gaylord and Ruth (Williams) Asher. Bill went to grade school during the Great Depression and high school during WWII. He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School where his father was the Principal. In 1943, at 16 years old, he worked shift work at the Steel Mill working on the open-hearth labor gang, working 4-12, 12-8, and 8-4 shifts and in 1944, he worked on the mason labor gang, working 60 hours per week.
At the end of WWII, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy at 17 years old. At the age of 19, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class while stationed in Washington D.C. Following his honorable discharge, he attended DePauw University, earning his Bachelor Degree in Psychology in 1950. Bill then transferred to Purdue University where he earned his Master Degree in 1951 and his PhD in 1955.
In 1955, Bill married Katherine Collyer. The couple had four children. Katherine preceded Bill in death in 1995 after 40 years of marriage. Bill then married Dorothy Alford in 1997 and they had been married for 27 years.
From 1956 – 1960, Bill worked at the United States Office of Education in Washington, D.C. and taught part time at American University and the University of Maryland. He also taught at the University of Pittsburgh from 1960-1966 and Sabbatical at Harvard University, Fellow Computing Center, and one semester at Universidad Central Quito, Ecuador. He also taught part time at the University of Louisville, University of Hawaii and the University of Colorado.
In 1966, Bill went to Purdue University as a Professor of Education and Psychology. He authored one book, co-authored two, and one with the University of Oxford Press. He wrote and co-wrote about 100 journal articles, and taught Research Methods, Statistics and Measurement. Bill retired in 2003 as a Professor Emeritus of Education and Psychological Sciences at Purdue University.
Bill was a Fellow in the American Psychological Association, Association of Psychological Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Educational Research Association. He was also the President of the Division of Education Psychology for the American Psychological Association.
Bill was very proud of his heritage. In 1778, his 3rd and 4th great-grandfathers were with George Rogers Clark during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, the 4th generation was killed in the war and the 3rd went on to farm in Louisville, then moved to Owen County in 1830. The family continues to farm in that area.
He enjoyed ballroom dancing, playing Bridge and international travel. He has traveled to Canada, through all of Central America, Europe, Asia, China and Japan. Bill has also traveled extensively throughout 49 of the 50 states. He also enjoys reading non-fiction books.
Along with his second wife, Bill is survived by four children and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
No services will be held at this time. A celebration of life is being scheduled for a future date. Bill will be interred next to his first wife Katherine in Sand Ridge Cemetery in West Lafayette, IN.
John William "Bill" Asher, 96, of West Lafayette, IN, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, IN.
A 7th generation Hoosier, he was born on April 12, 1927 in Gary, IN to the late Floyd Gaylord and Ruth (Williams) Asher. Bill went to grade school during the Great Depression and high school during WWII. He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School where his father was the Principal. In 1943, at 16 years old, he worked shift work at the Steel Mill working on the open-hearth labor gang, working 4-12, 12-8, and 8-4 shifts and in 1944, he worked on the mason labor gang, working 60 hours per week.
At the end of WWII, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy at 17 years old. At the age of 19, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class while stationed in Washington D.C. Following his honorable discharge, he attended DePauw University, earning his Bachelor Degree in Psychology in 1950. Bill then transferred to Purdue University where he earned his Master Degree in 1951 and his PhD in 1955.
In 1955, Bill married Katherine Collyer. The couple had four children. Katherine preceded Bill in death in 1995 after 40 years of marriage. Bill then married Dorothy Alford in 1997 and they had been married for 27 years.
From 1956 – 1960, Bill worked at the United States Office of Education in Washington, D.C. and taught part time at American University and the University of Maryland. He also taught at the University of Pittsburgh from 1960-1966 and Sabbatical at Harvard University, Fellow Computing Center, and one semester at Universidad Central Quito, Ecuador. He also taught part time at the University of Louisville, University of Hawaii and the University of Colorado.
In 1966, Bill went to Purdue University as a Professor of Education and Psychology. He authored one book, co-authored two, and one with the University of Oxford Press. He wrote and co-wrote about 100 journal articles, and taught Research Methods, Statistics and Measurement. Bill retired in 2003 as a Professor Emeritus of Education and Psychological Sciences at Purdue University.
Bill was a Fellow in the American Psychological Association, Association of Psychological Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Educational Research Association. He was also the President of the Division of Education Psychology for the American Psychological Association.
Bill was very proud of his heritage. In 1778, his 3rd and 4th great-grandfathers were with George Rogers Clark during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, the 4th generation was killed in the war and the 3rd went on to farm in Louisville, then moved to Owen County in 1830. The family continues to farm in that area.
He enjoyed ballroom dancing, playing Bridge and international travel. He has traveled to Canada, through all of Central America, Europe, Asia, China and Japan. Bill has also traveled extensively throughout 49 of the 50 states. He also enjoys reading non-fiction books.
Along with his second wife, Bill is survived by four children and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
No services will be held at this time. A celebration of life is being scheduled for a future date. Bill will be interred next to his first wife Katherine in Sand Ridge Cemetery in West Lafayette, IN.
A 7th generation Hoosier, he was born on April 12, 1927 in Gary, IN to the late Floyd Gaylord and Ruth (Williams) Asher. Bill went to grade school during the Great Depression and high school during WWII. He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School where his father was the Principal. In 1943, at 16 years old, he worked shift work at the Steel Mill working on the open-hearth labor gang, working 4-12, 12-8, and 8-4 shifts and in 1944, he worked on the mason labor gang, working 60 hours per week.
At the end of WWII, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy at 17 years old. At the age of 19, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class while stationed in Washington D.C. Following his honorable discharge, he attended DePauw University, earning his Bachelor Degree in Psychology in 1950. Bill then transferred to Purdue University where he earned his Master Degree in 1951 and his PhD in 1955.
In 1955, Bill married Katherine Collyer. The couple had four children. Katherine preceded Bill in death in 1995 after 40 years of marriage. Bill then married Dorothy Alford in 1997 and they had been married for 27 years.
From 1956 – 1960, Bill worked at the United States Office of Education in Washington, D.C. and taught part time at American University and the University of Maryland. He also taught at the University of Pittsburgh from 1960-1966 and Sabbatical at Harvard University, Fellow Computing Center, and one semester at Universidad Central Quito, Ecuador. He also taught part time at the University of Louisville, University of Hawaii and the University of Colorado.
In 1966, Bill went to Purdue University as a Professor of Education and Psychology. He authored one book, co-authored two, and one with the University of Oxford Press. He wrote and co-wrote about 100 journal articles, and taught Research Methods, Statistics and Measurement. Bill retired in 2003 as a Professor Emeritus of Education and Psychological Sciences at Purdue University.
Bill was a Fellow in the American Psychological Association, Association of Psychological Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Educational Research Association. He was also the President of the Division of Education Psychology for the American Psychological Association.
Bill was very proud of his heritage. In 1778, his 3rd and 4th great-grandfathers were with George Rogers Clark during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, the 4th generation was killed in the war and the 3rd went on to farm in Louisville, then moved to Owen County in 1830. The family continues to farm in that area.
He enjoyed ballroom dancing, playing Bridge and international travel. He has traveled to Canada, through all of Central America, Europe, Asia, China and Japan. Bill has also traveled extensively throughout 49 of the 50 states. He also enjoys reading non-fiction books.
Along with his second wife, Bill is survived by four children and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
No services will be held at this time. A celebration of life is being scheduled for a future date. Bill will be interred next to his first wife Katherine in Sand Ridge Cemetery in West Lafayette, IN.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
