William Donald Bain

Don was born in Rochelle, Illinois on July 1, 1925 and enjoyed ninety-plus wonderful years on this earth. He peacefully slipped away on Thursday, March 15 at his home surrounded by his loved ones.  Don spent his early years in Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa, graduating from West High School in Waterloo, Iowa.  During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps from 1943-45.  He earned his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Economics and his Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University Law School.  Once he experienced the beauty and hospitality of the South he chose to stay!             In 1950, he married Pat Thomas of Spartanburg with whom he had three daughters: Kittler (Henry, deceased), Anne (John), and Nancy (Paul).  He was the proud “GoDaddy” to his granddaughters Elizabeth, Anna (Aaron), and Abby.  Sadly, Pat died in 1991, but for the last five years he was blessed with the delightful and devoted companionship of his very special friend, Cabell.             Don’s first career step was serving as a field representative for Travelers Insurance Co. Mortgage Loan Department in Hartford, Connecticut, Cleveland, Ohio, and Orlando, Florida.  Following three years of service with Travelers, he began a life-long career with Moreland Chemical Co. in Spartanburg in 1951.  He became president of Moreland, and after sixteen years in this role merged the company into McKesson Corp. of San Francisco.  He continued with McKesson for five years, retiring as McKesson’s National Vice-President and General Manager of the Chemical Division.             Don was passionate about education.  He served for fourteen years—nine as chairman—of the Spartanburg County School District 7 Board of Trustees.  During this time, he and the Board helped District Superintendent Joe McCracken negotiate with the US Justice Department an acceptable plan for integrating the schools.  Don was particularly pleased that their plan paved the way for the schools to be peacefully integrated, successfully avoiding the protests and violence experienced by many communities across the country.  Don actively served on the Board of Trustees at Converse College for twenty-three years, several as chairman.  He was honored to be named a Life Trustee as a result of his many years of service to the College.  He also served on the Washington & Lee University Alumni Board and Hollins College Board of Trustees.             He was a trustee and former chairman of the Spartanburg County Foundation Board, member and former chairman of the Mary Black Hospital Board, a founding member of the Mary Black Foundation Board, a member and former president of the Spartanburg Rotary Club, and a former member of the Board of the Walker Foundation at the SC School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multi-handicapped.  He served as director of a number of corporations including local companies Tietex Corp. Spartan Communications, and Spartanburg Bank and Trust Company (now under the umbrella of Bank of America).             Don enthusiastically supported Mobile Meals of Spartanburg and the Spartanburg Humane Society and chaired major fundraising campaigns for both organizations.  He was a founding member of Saint Christopher’s Episcopal Church and currently a member of First Presbyterian Church.  He enjoyed membership at the Piedmont Club (Emeritus, Board of Governors), the Spartanburg Country Club, and was a founding director of the Carolina Country Club.  Recent honors include induction into the Washington and Lee University legal fraternity, the Order of the Coif.  Additionally, Converse College bestowed the Dexter Edgar Converse Award upon him in 2009, the College’s highest award.  At the time of his death his favorite “extracurricular activities” included The Crustbreakers Club, The Spectator Club, and The Whadyasay Club. Don was tremendously blessed to have so many devoted people who cared for him and loved him through his last challenging months.  You know who you are, and your loving care and kindness are deeply appreciated. A celebration of Don’s life will be observed at the First Presbyterian Church Chapel Monday, March 19th at 4 p.m. followed by a reception at the Piedmont Club.              In lieu of flowers, the family knows that Don would be honored to be remembered by gifts to Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, the Spartanburg Humane Society or to your favorite charity.