William "Bill" N. Magnuson's Obituary
Magnuson, William “Bill” N., age 80, of Xenia, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at Kettering Hospital.
Bill graduated from Reading Memorial High School in Massachusetts. Following high school, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, class of ’65. He worked for about five years for McCall Printing, followed by 17 years selling insurance while self-employed. He ultimately went to work for Allstate in his later working years, where he officially retired. However, beginning around 1984, he founded B & K Buttons and became affectionally known as the “Button Man.” Through the years, he manufactured millions of pin-back buttons (aka button badges) that were sold and shipped worldwide. He created buttons for politicians, Applebee’s restaurants, and over 400 commercial customers. In addition, the leader of the South American country, Guyana, reached out and placed an order and subsequently invited Bill to the country as a guest for his honesty and integrity.
Although he was larger than life, Bill kept life simple. He was gentle, outgoing, loving, and giving and always had a “dad” joke to tell. He asked for so little but gave so much. Most importantly, his greatest pride in life was his wife, family, and relationship with God. Being extremely family-oriented, he loved to talk to others about his family and sacrificed greatly for them whenever necessary. The love he shared with his wife was evident to all with their sweet “286” exchange and little “Marco Polo” chatter. It was never-ending and inspiring to all who knew them. He loved to read the Bible, quote scripture, and share his faith with others. He never hesitated to gather his family members together in a circle for prayer whenever they came together, even for simple things like going out for ice cream. While spending time with his family was his favorite hobby, he also enjoyed feeding the backyard birds, hiking, camping, and especially fishing. The family will never forget the tent camping trips and fishing at Beechwood Acres at Cowan Lakes and Hillside Haven, which became a fond tradition. In his later years, he will be remembered for the joy he received in working puzzles on his iPad and for the endless hours sitting on the porch swing with his beloved “Honey” watching the birds together.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Magnuson and Ruth Everett; the grandparents who raised him, Gordon and Emily Thomas; one brother, John Everett; and his sister, Judy Decker. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Kay; three children, Billy (Jenny) Magnuson, John (Michelle) Magnuson, and Judy (Alan) Stutes; six grandchildren, Alex (Colleen) Magnuson, Landon Magnuson, Makenzie Magnuson, Ashley Norris, Korinne (Michael) Pace, and Olivia Magnuson; and three great-grandchildren, Cohen, Novalee, and Morgan.
The family will receive friends 5:30 - 6:00 PM Friday, June 24, at Cornerstone Bible Church in Xenia, immediately followed by a memorial service at 6 PM. Pastor Bill Vine will be officiating. Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville is serving the family. Condolences at www.stubbsconner.com.
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