William Lumpkin Alford

1924-2023

A memorial service for William Lumpkin Alford, Professor Emeritus of Physics at Auburn University, will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Auburn First Baptist Church.

Bill, who died March 3, 2023, in Rome, GA, was born October 6, 1924, in Albertville, AL, to the late Emmie Sue Lumpkin and Bennett Allae Alford.

A lifelong learner, his education began in Albertville City Schools and Snead Junior College. During the years of 1943-1946, a tour of duty in the U.S. Army included a year of training at the University of Oregon, a year in the RCAF radio school in Clinton, Ontario, and service as a radar technician in California and the Pacific. Following his military service, he earned a BA degree in physics from Vanderbilt University in 1948. He met his wife Ruth while at Vanderbilt, and they married on June 3, 1948, following graduation. They moved to Pasadena, CA, where he earned MS and PhD degrees in physics from California Institute of Technology in 1949 and 1953. They lived in Auburn, AL, from 1952-2020, except for a stay in Huntsville from 1958-1964 where Bill participated in research at the U.S. Army Missile Command. During a 33- year tenure at Auburn University, his time was mostly devoted to teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and to research in nuclear physics. He enjoyed all of the contacts he had with colleagues and students, including those he advised in the classroom and those he advised on their research leading to MS and PhD degrees. During the last ten years of his service to Auburn University, he was Associate Dean for Research in the School of Arts and Sciences and, subsequently, the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

Bill was a member of the Alabama Academy of Science as well as the American Physical Society. His honorary societies included Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and Sigma Pi Sigma. He was designated the Pegram Award recipient by the Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society in 1983, elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1984, and presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award by Auburn University in 1985.

He was a devoted member, deacon, and Sunday school teacher at Auburn First Baptist Church. He was a member of Civitan for over 50 years and a member of the Auburn Library Board from 2002-2010. While his service recognition included an Eagle Scout Badge and being named a Civitan International Foundation Fellow, he quietly served others daily throughout his life. Whether others were strangers or knew him as Dr. Alford, Bill, Uncle Billy, Daddy, or Granddaddy, all were impacted by his unwavering kindness, generosity, and wisdom.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 73 years Ruth Wiggs Alford, his sister Vivian (Pat) Walker, his brothers James (Ruby) Alford and Bennett (Eunice) Alford, and his son- in-law Tom Yeager.

He is survived by his brother Frank (Joyce) Alford, Carollton, GA; five children: Linda Yeager, Louisville, KY; Charles (Janet) Alford, Vero Beach, FL; Lois Anne (Pat) Molony, Birmingham, AL; John (Julie) Alford, Rome, GA; and Barbara (Don) Hogan, Eustis, FL; seven grandchildren: Ford (Melanie) Hazelip, Will (Shelby) Hazelip, Kevin (Haley) Hogan, Laura (Ryan) Morgan, Elizabeth (Billy) Allen, Colleen (Rainey) Booth, and Grace Alford; 13 great-grandchildren: Morgan and Thomas Hazelip; Graham, Brooks, and Blair Hogan; Lela and Joseph Morgan; Louise and Mary Ruth Hazelip; William and Annie Allen; and Rainey and Henry Booth; and many nephews and nieces.

The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Auburn First Baptist Church or to one's favorite charity.