William “Bill” L. Cummings, 90, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 21, 2011. He was born September 16, 1920 in Dunkirk, N.Y., where he attended high school and graduated in 1937 as Valedictorian and President of his class. He then went on to Michigan State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1941 with a degree in chemical engineering. Upon graduation, he joined Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. In 1943, Bill left Firestone and joined the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS Herndon as an engineering officer until May, 1946. In September of that year, he married Mary W. Lynch who also served in the Navy as a Night Flight Director Officer. Upon completing terminal leave from the Navy, he returned to Firestone as an engineering representative working with the automotive industry. Shortly thereafter he left Firestone and joined The American Locomotive Company in Dunkirk, N.Y. where he served in various positions including that of a member of the President’s staff. In 1967 he was recruited to be Vice President and General Manager of Koch Engineering Company in Wichita, Kansas. He became President of Koch Engineering Company in 1970 and continued with the company until his retirement in October, 1985. He is survived by his wife Mary; son, Robert (wife, Annette, son Davis), Chicago; daughters, Elizabeth Cummings, and Karen Gilchrist, Wichita; daughter, Louise Blasco, (children, Kathleen and Nicholas), Wichita; son, Daniel (children, Jennifer, Chris, and Matthew), of Highlands Ranch, CO; son Mark (wife, Becky, children, Erin, Andrew, and Amy) of Appleton, WI; son, Tom (wife Lisa, children, Alex, Brady, and Ethan), of Highlands Ranch, CO. Memorial mass was at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Memorials were established with St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1321 Stratford Lane, Wichita, Kansas, 67206 and Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, 701 North Amidon, Wichita, Kansas 67203. Service were in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary -East Chapel.