William H. Stewart; Disc Jockey

William H. Stewart, a former Los Angeles disc jockey who was heard on Armed Forces Radio Service for nearly 50 years, has died at a Burbank hospital. He was 69.

A longtime Burbank resident, Stewart died Feb. 26 of congestive heart failure and complications of diabetes, said his wife, Shirley Stewart.

Born in New Brunswick, Canada, Stewart served in the Canadian Air Force during World War II and was discharged due to a medical disability.

He came to the United States and worked shortly at a radio station in Idaho until he was drafted into the U. S. Army.

He was a disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio Service and, after his discharge in 1947, Stewart continued to produce his big band and jazz radio show called “All That Jazz” until May.

As a disc jockey, he worked in Los Angeles at various radio stations, including KLAC-AM, KMPC-AM, KGIL-AM and KRHM- FM. In the early 1970s, he started a business called Music in the Air that provides audio entertainment for commercial airlines. Recently, he and his wife were active with their company, Audio Production Block West, providing programming for airlines.

Stewart was a member of the Society of Singers, Big Band Academy and the World Airline Entertainment Assn.

In addition to his wife of 22 years, Stewart is survived by his sons, James Stewart of Milwaukee and Lawrence Block of Fort Collins, Colo.; daughters, Samantha Paris of Mill Valley, Calif., and Lori Block of San Ramon, Calif., and six grandchildren. His son, Richard Stewart, died in 1988.

A memorial service is planned for 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Old North Church at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills, is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be made in Stewart’s name to the Society of Singers, 8242 W. 3rd St., Suite 250, Los Angeles 90048.