William Dennis Lankford's Obituary
Lankford, William Dennis William D. (Bill) Lankford, 64, of Fairview, Texas passed away peacefully Thursday, February 18, 2010, at home surrounded by his family, ending his eighteen-month battle with melanoma cancer. Bill was born July 9, 1945 in San Francisco, California, to Thomas Nelson Lankford and Johanna Eleanor Fitzgerald Lankford. His family moved to Lewiston, Idaho in 1954, where he graduated from high school as valedictorian in 1963. Bill quarterbacked his high school football team and lettered in basketball. He attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho where he met the love of his life, Patricia A. Holton. They married June 4, 1966 in the Wilder United Methodist Church, Wilder, Idaho. Both graduated from The College of Idaho and moved to Genessee, Idaho. Pat taught school while Bill earned his Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, and was inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. In June, 1968, they moved to Garland, Texas when Bill was hired by Texas Instruments in Dallas. They relocated to Richardson in 1984. Bill attended Southern Methodist University where he earned a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering in 1972. At TI, he held engineering and management positions in the Electro Optics Division, then finished his career at Raytheon Systems Company as General Manager of Raytheon Commercial Infrared prior to his retirement in 2003. In 2007, Bill and Pat moved to Heritage Ranch in Fairview, Texas to enjoy golf, travel and their retirement together. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Pat, his daughter Shellie Lankford of San Antonio, Texas, his Mother, Johanna Lankford of Allen, Texas, his identical twin brother, Tom Lankford and wife Carolyn, of Scottsdale, Arizona, his brother-in-law Wendell Holton and wife Jan of Melba, Idaho, his nieces and nephews Dustin Holton, of Melba, Idaho, Jill Beebe and husband Scott of Mesa, Arizona, Scott Lankford and wife Lori of Copley, Ohio, Jenny Lankford of New York, New York, and his great nephews Austin Holton of Boise, Idaho and Harrison Holton of Melba, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his Father, Thomas Lankford.
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