January 6, 1945-December 5, 2001

The V. Rt. Rev. William H. Duby passed away suddenly in his home on Wednesday, December 5, 2001 in Berkeley, Ca. He was 56. Founder and Pastor of the Spiritual Rights Foundation, Inc. and its Seminary, The Academy For Psychic Studies, Rev. Bill was well known throughout the Bay Area.

He was born in Troy, New York in 1945 and lived there until the age of seven. It was at this young age that Rev. Bill became aware that he was more than just a body. He could see spirit, he saw energy, and knew things before they would happen. He moved to Emeryville, CA. with his mother and sister when he was seven. After his mother died he was raised in over 20 foster homes.

He graduated in 1962 from Pacific High School in San Leandro, and received many trophies for track and field, including a trophy for first place in the Pole Vaulting Championship of the North Coast Relays of California.

He joined the military in 1962 and served in the Army for three years as a sharpshooter and marksman. It is noted in his military papers that his entire character of service was honorable. He was stationed at the Presidio and worked underground at the Nike Missile Site as a missile tracker and radar plotter before he was honorably discharged. Rev. Bill loved his country. He often spoke about working in the recruiting office in Oakland during the Vietnam era. In a PBS documentary, Rev. Bill can be seen riding on a bus to the recruiting office through the streets of Oakland while people were protesting against the war and our country.

After serving in the military he attended bible college in Galt, CA. which was the beginning of his life long dedication to the ministry of Jesus Christ. He soon became known to people on the streets as "Preacher Bill". He would offer to buy them food, and while they ate he spoke to them and read from the Bible. He had a vast amount of knowledge of the Nine Great Scriptures, but his love was always in Jesus Christ and he taught the teachings of Jesus from the New Testament.

He was a computer programmer and worked for General Foods for many years. Rev. Bill always said that computer consciousness and cosmic consciousness was the way of the future.

In 1965 he married Sandra S. Hoaglan. They remained married for thirteen years and together they had two children; Shannon and William Jr.

He met Rev. Angela in 1969 who remained his life long friend. It was also in 1969 that Rev. Bill had the vision to establish the Spiritual Rights Foundation, Inc. He was made aware that he was not alone in his need for a safe environment where he could explore the sovereignty of his spiritual nature without ridicule. This vision marked the beginning of his spiritual journey and life long dream.

In 1976 Rev. Bill studied spirituality with the guidance of Marc Reymont at the New Age Awareness Foundation, located in San Francisco, CA. He studied with Marc until 1981.

In 1980 he continued his studies in the spiritual and metaphysical with the Very Rt. Rev. Lewis S. Bostwick at the Church of Divine Man of Berkeley, CA. He was ordained as a minister in 1982 and was given the blessing from Lewis to "go out and learn." And he did.

He founded the Spiritual Rights Foundation, Inc. and its seminary, the Academy For Psychic Studies in 1982 in Berkeley, CA. and opened a branch in San Jose in 1994. Rev. Bill always referred to SRF as a "half way house for wayward spirits."

He was a lover of words who wrote poetry, a book titled Cosmic Acid, Drop A Little Love and hundreds of articles which have been published in the American Spirit Newspaper and earlier SRF publications.

For nineteen years his voice was heard on the popular radio show "Total Prosperity" on KEST. People will always remember his one line answer to the shows opening question "How are you Rev. Bill?" to which he would always respond, "Marvelous!"

A teacher and a reacher, Rev. Bill was loved and respected by everyone he met. Convicted and dedicated in his mission to spread the teachings of Christ, he remained true to his calling till the very end. A visionary and entrepreneur, he founded many companies other than SRF, to be an extension and means to continue reaching people.

He created Health & Wealth Inc., which distributes the extensive SRF tape library; Sterling Rose Press, which publishes the American Spirit Newspaper; The International Spiritual Hypnotherapy Institute (ISHI), which is a school for Hypnotherapy Certification and teaches the importance of combining hypnosis and the psychic arts. Recognizing the need to continually practice, Rev. Bill opened a Hypnosis Clinic which benefits both the public and practitioners. He also founded Freedom Estates, and our beloved Blue Sky Ranch of East Contra Costa county.

Rev. Bill was a soul comedian who explained spirituality and cosmic consciousness in practical, down to earth ways which helped enliven and prosper people in various avenues of their life. He always said spirituality is practicality and that "You can be enlightened anywhere. You donÕt have to travel to Nepal. You can get unraveled right down at McDonalds." It was this practical sense of humor which endeared him to all different types of people from various walks of life.

He is survived by a sister, Juanita Stuart, and brother, Bill Baldwin Jr., both of Berkeley as well as three children; Shannon Johnson of Napa, Bill Duby Jr. of Martinez and Gabriella Rene Duby of Berkeley. He also leaves behind the beloved mother of Gabriella, Robin DuMolin, Vice President of SRF, and his life companion and President of SRF, Angela Silva, as well as the staff and students of SRF and many, many, many friends.

Donations in his memory can be sent to SRF, Inc. PO Box 14341, Berkeley, CA., 94712.

In closing, we would like to include a quote that to us, best describes the wisdom, spiritual awareness and amusement of Rev. Bill.

"Once someone asked me if I knew where God was. 'Yes', I replied, He's in your ATTITUDE, and when you ask Him, He will heal it."