Dr. William Henry Requarth, 95, died on Monday, June 2, 2008, in Decatur, Ill. He was the father of Kurt Requarth, of Rockport, former harbormaster in Port Aransas.

Requarth was born on Jan. 23, 1913 in Charlotte, N.C., the son of Charles and Amelia George Requarth. He married Nancy Charlton in 1948. He married Connie Harper in 1977.

He attended Millikin University, in Decatur, Ill., and the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Ill., where he received his Bachelor of Science in 1935, his medical degree in 1938 and his Medical Surgery degree in 1940. He was the first open-heart surgeon in Decatur.

His served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1946, and was flight surgeon on the U.S.S. Cabot, one of the most decorated aircraft carriers in World War II.

A pilot and acrobatic flier, Requarth served as president of the National Pilots Association.

He was a member of numerous professional organizations and a wellpublished author of journal articles and books.

Two buildings were named in his honor, the Dr. William Requarth Surgery Pavilion at Decatur Memorial Hospital and the Dr. William Requarth Astronomy Observatory Tower in the Millikin University Leighty Tabor Science Building.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife; Connie Requarth, of Decatur, his first wife Nancy Charlton Sedgwick of Lincolnwood, Ill., six other children; Betsy (Robert) Risner, of Sylvania, Ohio, Jeff (Justine) Requarth, of

Mundelein, Ill., Jan Requarth of St. Augustine, Fla., Timothy Requarth of Chicago, Ill., Suzy Requarth and partner Sarah Roper of Urbana, Ill.; several siblings and six grandchildren.

Services were held at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Decatur, Ill., on June 6. Memorial contributions may be made to Millikin University, St. Johns Episcopal Church or Easter Seals of Decatur.