William C. Huber

Dr. William “Bill” Huber, 95, of Washington, MO, died on December 19, 2025.  He was born on May 10, 1930, in Westphalia, MO.  Bill was the oldest of two children born to William and Regina “Ragene” Huber, nee Willibrand.

In his youth, Bill would wash dishes, pump gas and change oil at a family run restaurant and filling station near their homestead in Westphalia, a small town near Jefferson City. He was also an avid fisherman, hunter and trapper along the Osage River, just below the Huber bluff-home which still overlooks the community today.

After graduating from high school in 1947, Bill went on to attend Saint Louis University.  While in college, he married the love of his life, Clare Huber, nee Fick, in 1952, and went on to complete his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at SLU in 1954. 

Shortly after completing his dental schooling, Bill joined the Navy and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.  He became a Lieutenant and served his country for two years as part of the U.S. Navy Dental Corps.

Bill, Clare and young daughter, Mary Kay, returned to their Midwest roots and settled in Washington after his term of enlistment.  He opened his dental practice in 1956 above the Mercantile Bank – then located on Fifth Street.  He later moved his business to Washington Square Shopping Center and enjoyed a wonderful practice for 40 years.

Community involvement was important to Bill.  He started out as a Scout Master with Troop 439 at St. Francis Borgia in the late-60s and worked with young scouts for six years.  From 1969 to 1970, Bill was a member of the Washington Town and Country Fair Board.  He served two terms with the Washington Park Commission — once from 1972 to 1987 and again from 1999 to 2008.  Bill was president of the board for several years and worked on committees that forged improvements to Lions Lake, the city pool and countless other projects throughout the park system.

While serving on the Washington City Council from 1989 to 1994, he became known as “Landfill Bill” for the many hours he put into the Landfill Committee.  This committee also established our current recycling program in the 1990s.  The center remained near and dear to his heart over the years, and he often said it was one of our city’s greatest “commitment to ecology” to establish the facility on Bluff Road.

Bill and Clare joined Our Lady of Lourdes parish in 1959.  He was very active in the parish through the decades, dedicating his time and talents to various boards and committees, including the Church Council, lector group, church festivals and maintenance crew organizers. 

Bill was a member of the Washington Lions Club for 68 years, joining the local organization in 1957.  He served as a director from 1967 to 1969 and again from 2000 to 2002. In 2009, he was honored with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the club’s highest form of recognition for individuals who embody humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism.  Bill also received several Monarch Awards, given to Lions for their long-term service.  He was awarded a life membership in the local club in 1997.  

He was a long-time volunteer with the Washington Meals-on-Wheels program, which his wife helped establish in 1972.  Bill was also a Mercy Hospital Hospice volunteer, and a Mercy McAuley Clinic friend, where he often read books to young children at the clinic. He also traveled on a trip to Honduras with the Washington Overseas Mission group and continued to provide financial support to the organization over the years.

In his retired years, “Doc” – as he was known by his friends, and former patients who couldn’t remember his name – also became an avid gardener. He entered the Missouri Master Gardener Program through the University of Missouri Extension in 2004 and joined the Washington Garden Club.  He was nominated in 2012 for the Community Champion Award for America in Bloom via the club for exemplifying community leadership through actions that reflect the mission of the organization.

In 2010, Bill became a City of Washington Hall of Fame member. The category honoring citizen volunteers for excellence in community/service/conservation/ecology bears his name and it was a proud highlight of his personal accomplishments.  A favorite statement of his was: “When people receive so much good in a community like this, I think they should give something back."

Bill is survived by his seven children and sons- and daughters-in-law.  They include Mary Kay and Kim Daugherty, Monica and John Swoboda, Michele and Dennis Koelling, Martin and Krista Huber, Moira and Robert Vossbrink, Mike and Nancy Huber, and Matt and Lauren Huber.  He also leaves behind 21 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. They include: Grandchildren -- Kelly, Mike; William (Billy), Thomas, Jack, Nick; Andy, Hannah, Emma; Joe; Ellen, Julie, Maggie, Robbie; Bart, Amy, Erica; Helena, Mira, Augustine (Gus), and Abram (Abe).Great Grandchildren -- Henry, Charlotte, Betsy, Davie Grace, William (Butch); Brooks, Reid; James, Frank; Luke, Logan; Cecilia, Caitlin, Campbell; Charlie, William (Liam), Louie: Kolbie, Harper, Heath; Theo, Bennett, Maxton; Katherine, Cora, Margy; Thomas, Joanna (JoJo), Harriet, Walter; William (Will), Nora; and Elige.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents William and Regina Huber, his sister Marilyn Huber and wife, Clare.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, The Washington Parks Department or The Washington Garden Club.    

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life service for Bill on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Washington. The Huber family will be present starting at 10 AM, with a mass to begin at 11 AM. A reception will be held in the Lourdes cafeteria following the service. Burial will be private.

The Huber family was served by Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home in Washington.

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