Billy Joe Harris' Obituary
Dr. Billy Harris born May 25, 1932 in Durant, OK passed away March 25, 2021 in Carrollton, TX.
He was preceded in death by daughter, Karen Harris; parents, Gladys and CC Bridwell, and Walter Harris.
He is survived by wife, Bernice Harris; daughter, Sharon Richard (Dickie); grandchildren, Colton Richard (Micaela); Arianna Richard; great-grandchildren James and August Richard, brother Robert Birdwell (Diana); sister Judy Griffin (Jack); brother-in-law Art Egger (Mary); and many beloved nieces, nephews and spouses, and cousins.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 2:00pm-3:00pm at Restland Funeral Home Wildwood Chapel.
Service will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 3:00pm at Restland Funeral Home Wildwood Chapel, Dallas, TX.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association.
Bill was raised on the family farm in Oswalt and then Purcell, OK. He began service in the US Airforce in 1951, then transferred to the US Army Officer School to become a pilot. After being forced out of flight school due to color-blindness, Bill served as a drill instructor, then shipped to Korea where he served as an aircraft mechanic in an artillery unit.
In 1954 he returned to his parent’s home in California where he met Bee, whom he called “the love is his life”. They married in 1955, celebrating their 65th Anniversary in August.
Bill and Bee spent the next 10 years moving between Oklahoma and California. Bill earned his degree in aeronautical engineering from OU, moved back to California as a research engineer with Lockheed Missiles also obtaining his Masters from Stanford. Then moved to Oklahoma as a professor at OU and obtaining a National Science Faculty Fellowship and finally completing his PhD in structural engineering at OU in 1967.
He became Dean of Engineering at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX and eventually opened his own consulting engineering firm in Dallas and living in Plano, TX. Bill served on the Board of Trustees for LeTourneau for many years, then had the honor of being named a Trustee Emeritus.
Bill and Bee retired to Lake Kiowa, TX – then moved to Deming, NM where they lived for 10 years before moving back to Gainesville, TX.
Bill worked out regularly and was an avid golfer. He loved traveling with Bee in their RV, especially Alaska, and activities such as snow skiing, fishing and water skiing at Lake Kiowa. Bill shared his love of the outdoors with his grandchildren, who accompanied him on many adventures.
Bill embodied service both as a deacon and a Sunday School Teacher at his churches in Gainesville and Deming, and as chief dishwasher on Wednesday night dinners.
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