Billy James Nalls' Obituary
Billy J. Nalls was born July 8, 1926 in Forney, Texas. He was the youngest of 7 children of Walter and Jesse Nalls. He grew up and attended school in Forney. Upon his eighteenth birthday he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from July 1944 to June 1946. He served as a Motor Machinist Mate Third Class on the U.S.S Bowie, a fast troop carrier, in the Pacific War Zone. After the end of the War they transported wounded back to the States and then delivered the Bowie to the mothball fleet. Soon after returning home to the Dallas area he met the Love of his Life, Kathryn Leathers, and they were married on December 21, 1946. His first civilian job was with the Aladdin Paper Company operating a large paper cutter, after just one day he decided he was not meant to be in the paper business. The number of workers missing fingers may have had something to do with his decision, because he never even went back for his paycheck. He then got a job driving a dump truck hauling for the construction of the Sears Ross Avenue store. He quickly became friends with the Sears construction manager, who talked him into leaving the driving job and applying for work at Sears. His career at Sears spanned almost 40 years, taking him from Parts Clerk at Bellvue Service Department to Manager of the Garland Central Service Unit. After retiring in 1985 Billy and Kathryn spent many years traveling, they would leave home with a destination in mind, but would take any side trip that caught their interest. They would turn and head back home whenever they grew tired of traveling. Billy lost the Love of his life on October 7, 2007 after she had battled Leukemia for 18 months. Though he continued on, he was finally able to go Home to be with Kathryn on December 30, 2014. He was preceded in death by his Mom and Dad, two brothers and four sisters. He is survived by his four children, Linda Kay Etheridge and her husband Wayne Etheridge of Colbert OK., Mike Nalls of Anna, TX, George Nalls of Euless, TX, and Brenda Nalls-Falcone and husband Thomas Falcone of N Richland Hills, TX. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. The visitation for Billy Nalls will be held on Monday, January 5, 2015 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Restland Funeral Home. The service for Billy Nalls will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 11:00am at The Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, in Billy’s Name.
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