Billy Thames

Robstown, Texas Billy Virgil Thames, 79, passed away Monday, July 5, 2010 surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 6, 1931 in Waco, Texas, the son of James Virgil and Lila Mae Thames. He was a graduate of Waco High School, Baylor University and Texas A&M University, Kingsville. Bill served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, was manager of the Hillsboro and Kingsville Chamber of Commerce, an HEB store manager in Del Rio and Brownsville, an associate professor at Southeastern Louisiana University, and owner of Robstown Insurance Agency. Bill taught a men’s Sunday School class for 35 years, and was a member and deacon of the Calallen Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife of forty-nine years, Gaynell; his daughters, Deborah (Jerry) Lunceford and Pamela Conley, both of Corpus Christi, Texas; and grandson, T. J. Conley of Robstown, Texas. Visitation will be from 10 A.M. until 7 P.M. with the family present from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M. Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at Sawyer-George Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 A.M. Thursday, July 8, 2010 at Calallen Baptist Church with Pastor Jack Willoughby, Dr. Joel Odom and Brother Ronnie Watson officiating. Burial will follow in Robstown Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be T. J. Conley, Justin Blacklock, Glen Contreras, James Harrell, Roger Harrell, Bob King, Lynn Martin and Doug McBee, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Calallen Baptist Church and Stephen Bakalyar, Greg Carter and Richard Sanchez, Jr. Those who wish, may make contributions to South Texas Children’s Home, P. O. Box 1210, Beeville, Texas 78102 or to your favorite charity. Bill’s laughter will be missed by all. “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” – Theodore M. Hesburgh