William Carnahan Obituary

William Harmon Carnahan, 81, attorney, passed away on December 14, 2006, at home in Colorado Springs, due to complications following heart surgery. He was born January 9, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, to Charles Evert Carnahan and Esther Marie (O'Malley) Carnahan. He graduated from Loyola Academy in Chicago, Illinois in 1942. He then enrolled in the pre-med program at The University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. At the onset of World War II, he joined the Navy and served at San Leandro Naval Hospital, California. During his tenure there, he wrote for the base paper under the moniker "Irish" Carnahan. He married Patricia Lynn in San Leandro on May 24, 1945. Together they would have seven children and live on three continents. After the war, he returned to Notre Dame, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1946 and a Juris Doctorate from the Notre Dame School of Law in 1949. In 1951, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force Reserve as a judge advocate. From 1957 to 1961, he returned to live in South Dakota, where his grandparents had a home for many years. He was a states attorney in Lawrence County, South Dakota, where his greatest accomplishment was ridding Deadwood of illegal gambling and prostitution. From the period 1961 to 1976, he and his family were stationed in Libya, Morocco, Korea, England, Nevada, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Colorado. His wife Pat has tremendous memories of packing and moving the household many times. The seven Carnahan children were born in 5 different states. From 1967 to 1972, he was stationed at the United States Air Force Academy. He wrote one of the first books on copyright of computer software in 1972, entitled, Protection of Computer Programs: A Dilemma. After returning from a two year unaccompanied tour to Korea, the family moved to England. From 1974 to 1976, he was the Command Staff Judge Advocate for the Third Air Force in England. He retired from the Air Force in 1976, having attained the rank of Colonel. He received 37 decorations in the Air Force including the Legion of Merit. He was in private practice as an attorney in Colorado Springs until the day he died. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children, daughters, Cari and Julie (Bill) Carnahan; sons: Chris, Colin (Jenny), Shawn, William A. and Michael Carnahan. His grandchildren: Annemarie Jacar; Bridget, Charlie, Molly, Katie, Christopher W., and Cailin Carnahan. One great grandchild: Cailleach Carnahan. Also surviving is his sister-in-law, Kathleen (Healy) Carnahan; many nieces and nephews; and the Gordon's, Bonnie, Angus, and Bailey. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James ; aunts, Donna Harmon and Lucille Carnahan; and his beloved, Duncan McGregor. He was a member of the Colorado and Wisconsin Bar Associations, the Knights of Columbus, and a forty year member of Eisenhower Golf Club. He belonged to St. Francis of Assisi Parish and participated as a Lay Eucharist Minister and Lector. He was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, Notre Dame Football and Air Force Football. He was an avid golfer, and a longtime skier and fisherman. Services will be held, Thursday, December 21, 2006, at 10am at St. Francis of Assisi, Colorado Springs. Burial to follow at Fort Logan National Cemetary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Loyola Academy, 1100 Laramie Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, 60091-1089.