Louis Otto Bass, Jr.

Louis Otto Bass, Jr., 89, passed away on Friday, September 1, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, after a two-year battle with cancer. Arrangements are under the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Stillwater. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at 2:00pm at Starlight Ministries. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 4, 2017 from 9:00am to 8:00pm with family greeting quest from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the funeral home.
Louis was born in McNeil, Arkansas on October 18, 1927 to Louis Otto Bass, Sr. and Una Leota Williams Bass. At age 17 he enlisted in the Army to serve in World War II. Fortunately, the war ended before he was shipped overseas. He married Doris Mae Hesser while they were both attending OSU. To their union was born three children: Teresa Lou Bass Bittle, Jon Mical Bass, and Delea Elizabeth Bass. He joined the National Guard in 1950 and served in the Corp of Engineers during the Korean Conflict as an demolitions specialist. He began a career as a structural engineer with Roof Structures in Rock Hill, Missouri. During his time at Roof Structures he was the structural engineer of record for the roof structure of the Astrodome dubbed the eighth wonder of the world. Other projects have included the Super Dome, Texas Stadium, First Christian Church, Stillwater and many more. He was a pioneer in his field for writing computer programs to model three-dimensional structures and for designing engineering software for Hewlett Packard that was marketed worldwide.
He moved the family back to Stillwater in 1963 to begin his 31 years of teaching at Oklahoma State in the architectural engineering department. While teaching he was also a co-principal of Orr, Bass and Associates and later Irby, Bass and Associates. He retired from teaching in 1994 to pursue his true passions of hunting, fishing, woodworking, sleeping during church, and sparring with his wife.
Louis was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Doris; three children, Teresa Bittle (Larry), Luther OK; Jon Bass (Shelly), Austin, TX; Delea Bass (Dennis Frasier), Austin, TX.; his sisters, Judy Howe (Raymond) and Mary Martha Eggli; 5 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.pmcfhstillwater.com.