William J. (Bill) O'Meilia, MD, age 101, passed from this life on June 4, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. Bill was born on January 2, 1922, in Chicago, Ill., to William Edmund and Georgene Sylvia (Laufersweiler) O'Meilia. After graduating from Tulsa Central High School in 1940, Bill attended St. Edward's University in Austin, Tex., graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1944. That same year, he married Dolores Marie Bohn, whom he met at St. Edward's. From an early age, Bill wanted to become a doctor like his uncle John Laufersweiler, so he applied and was accepted to St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., earning a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1946. Bill returned to Tulsa, where he began an internship and residency at St. John Hospital. But duty called, and from 1948 to 1950 Bill and his young family lived in Germany, where he served as Captain 1stClass in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. After returning to Tulsa, Bill completed his residency at St. John Hospital in 1951 and began private practice in Internal Medicine with Rayburn Goen, MD. During Bill's 60 years of practicing medicine, he served as St. John Hospital's VP of general staff (1958) and both chairman and vice chairman of the Dept. of Internal Medicine (1962). He also served as Chief of Staff at Saint Francis Hospital in 1967. After retiring from private practice in 1989, he worked as Associate Director of the Oklahoma State Medical Association Health Professionals Recovery Program until 2006. Bill is survived by his seven children: Anne Talley and husband Mack, Patrick O'Meilia, Kathleen Mahaffay, Michael O'Meilia and wife Mary, Kevin O'Meilia and wife Cheryl, Sharon O'Meilia, Denis O'Meilia, 21 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Dolores, and his three brothers: Raymond, Rolly and Jay. Bill and Dolores were dedicated, lifelong Catholics and founding members of the Church of Saint Mary. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Catholic Charities, Doctors without Borders, Meals on Wheels, or St. Jude Children's Hospital. To write a tribute, please visit Fitzgerald's Southwood website. Services will be held at the Church of Saint Mary on Friday, June 16: 10:30 a.m. rosary, 11:00 a.m. funeral Mass, and graveside ceremony immediately following at Calvary Cemetery.