William Lassiter Basham August 6, 1924 – April 24, 2024 Dr. William L. Basham, geologist, geophysicist, professor and man of faith, charity, and humor, passed away peacefully at home in Midland, Texas with family at his side on April 24, 2024 at 99 years old. William L. Basham was born in Tyler, Texas on AugustContinue Reading
William Lassiter Basham
August 6, 1924 – April 24, 2024
Dr. William L. Basham, geologist, geophysicist, professor and man of faith, charity, and humor, passed away peacefully at home in Midland, Texas with family at his side on April 24, 2024 at 99 years old.
William L. Basham was born in Tyler, Texas on August 6, 1924, where his father taught at Draughon’s Business College. Bill attended high school in Fullerton, California. He volunteered for the U.S. Navy in 1942 and entered the Navy V12 program at the University of Kansas and went to sea after the war was over. He obtained a BS degree in geology from Caltech in 1949, an MS from Northwestern in 1951, and a PHD from Oklahoma University in 1978.
He worked for Chevron from 1951 to 1980 as a geologist and geophysicist in Salt Lake City, Bakersfield, California, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Oklahoma City and Denver. He then worked for Husky and Page Oil Company and joined ARCO in 1982 and moved to Plano then Midland in 1986. After retiring in 1991 he taught geology and physics at Midland College and physics at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He was active in the Permian Basin SEPM and the West Texas Geological Society.
His first wife, Jeanne J. Basham, passed away in 1999. He married Sandra Bramlett in 2001 and they traveled, fished, played tennis, and danced at the Ballroom Society and the Over 45s Dance Club. They attended St. Luke’s Methodist Church. Bill was a member of the Midland Kiwanis Club.
He is survived by his son Nye Basham of New York City, granddaughter Sophia Malloy of Tulsa, Oklahoma, great granddaughters Georgia Malloy and Alabama Malloy of Tulsa and great great granddaughters Yves Frey and Jocelyne Montgomery of Tulsa.
A memorial reception will be held 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday, April 29, 2024 at the Branch at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home 3800 N. Big Spring Street, Midland, Texas 79705.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.
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