Dr. William (Bill) F. Bourns, who was eighty-three years old, died peacefully on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Crystal Lake, Illinois, after many complications from diabetes. Bill was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 20, 1942, and his parents were Jack H. Bourns and Jewell E. (Covey) Bourns. Bill graduated from Salem Community High School in Salem, Illinois, then graduated from Southern Illinois University with a double major in elementary and secondary education, receiving a Master's Degree in Educational Administration at the University of Illinois, and then a Ph.D from the University of Illinois in Education, and finally another Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. He published many articles about community policing and law enforcement.

Bill is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie A. (Bourns) Harter and Clarence Harter, and Dr. Becky (Bourns) McTague and Dr. James McTague. In addition, his nieces and nephews are Jennifer (McTague) Savone, Bryan McTague, Racheal McTague, Rick Harter, and Sarah (Harter) Turman.

A memorial service will be held at the chapel at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 5111 South Memorial Drive, on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 10 A.M., with a small graveside military salute following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or to your local public television station in Bill`s honor.