William Edward Napier, 86 years old, of Evergreen Assisted Living, Champaign, Illinois, passed away on December 17th at Carle Hospital.  Edward (as he was known in Scotland) was born on Great Kings Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, to William Napier and Wilhelmina Joan Grant Napier on January 24, 1937.  As a child, he survived the bombing of Edinburgh in World War II.  Edward attended university in London where he studied Russian. Edward came to the United States in 1965, where he worked, taught, and received a PhD in Russian language and literature from the University of Illinois. He was employed in the university's Graduate Library in the Slavic and East European Department, retiring in 2006. Ed (as he was called in the U.S.) was loved by his friends and had a generous, humorous, and caring spirit.  He supported numerous orphanages over his lifetime.  Known for his startling intellect and memory, as well as his love of history and language, he was a delight of historical knowledge that his friends greatly enjoyed. Mr. Napier was a member of Windsor Road Christian Church. He is survived by Ms. Anne Laing, stepsister, of Edinburgh, Scotland, and by Mr. Alistair Napier, stepbrother, also of Edinburgh, and by niece and nephews Ian Napier, David Napier, Alan Laing, and Joanne Laing. He remained a Scotsman until his death. A memorial service will be held at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Road, Urbana, at 11 a.m. on January 3rd, 2024.  A private burial will follow the service. Monetary donations in memory of Mr. Napier may be sent to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Urbana, Illinois.