Claremore - Bill Lewis Salwaechter, 95, of Claremore, passed away peacefully December 3, 2025. He was born in Enid, Oklahoma to Lewis Ernest Salwaechter and Marjorie Eleanor Bunyan. The family lived in Pond Creek until Bill was three, then moved to Meeker where he spent his childhood.

Bill married the love of his life, Anna Ruth Crowe, on July 12, 1960 in Oklahoma City. Together they built a beautiful life centered on family, education, and service to others.

Bill graduated from Oklahoma A&M (later Oklahoma State University) with a bachelor's degree in Geology, hoping to become the next Indiana Jones. When the market fell out, he found his true passion in education, earning his master's in Psychology and PhD in Education from OSU in 1973. He was a true Oklahoma Aggie!

On November 7, 1969, Bill and Ann picked up their daughter Beth from DHS. When that little girl smiled at him, he said it was the greatest moment of his life. She became his shadow; he became her best friend.

Bill served as principal and assistant superintendent in Stillwater before moving his family to Claremore in 1977, where he served as Superintendent of Claremore Public Schools until his retirement in 1992.

Bill loved fishing and taking long drives to listen to OSU football games on the radio. He was a fixture at Claremore Zebras sporting events. Everyone in town knew his 1972 Olympia Blue Super Beetle.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Marjorie Salwaechter, wife Ann, brother Robert, and sister Dorothy Mills.

Bill is survived by his daughter Beth and granddaughter Emma, both of Claremore; his sister-in-law Carolyn Swanson of Crescent; numerous nieces and nephews; generations of Claremore Public School students, staff, and families; and his Eggbert's buddies who shared countless cups of coffee and good conversation.

Bill's life will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Rice Funeral Home at 631 E Will Rogers Blvd in Claremore, OK.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.