William H Perry III's Obituary
William Hicks Perry III
Wm. H. “Bill” Perry III passed away in Plano, Texas on November 15, 2022. A Memorial Service will be held in Restland Memorial Chapel at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
Towards the end of World War II, while his parents, Wm. H. Perry Jr. and Nell Reynolds Perry, were deployed to Kingman Air Force Base, Bill was born in Kingman, Arizona on June 16, 1945. Mustered out after VE/VJ Days, the family returned to Dallas, Texas in 1946 to make their home. Two years later, some extra baggage arrived in the form of another son, Randy, and the table was set for the years to come.
Bill’s parents were industrious, intelligent, hardworking people. They were also strong Christians, helping to found Northway Baptist Church in 1954. The boys were baptized there at an early age.
Essentially, all of Bill’s formative years were spent at the intersection of Hedgeway Drive and Walnut Hill Lane, moving between Northway Baptist Church, Edward H. Cary Junior High, and Thomas Jefferson High School. Much like the old TV series “I Led Three Lives” this environment contained three unique ecosystems that moved to their own (and not similar) beats. It was a great time and place to grow up.
Bill graduated TJ in 1963 with many good and lifelong friends. In 1963 in Denton, Texas, Bill began college at North Texas State University (UNT). Bill’s four years as a Sigma Nu were filled with fun, frolic, and great memory making. Rope Pull, the Greek Bowl, the Border Ball with OU Sigma Nus, and the White Rose formal embellished the Sigma Nu culture, such that it was, and created the baseline memories.
After graduating in 1967, Bill’s generation was sucked into the web of the Viet Nam war. Enlisting in the Navy, Bill served as a Naval Air Crewman and was honorably discharged in 1972.
While at NAS Coronado, Bill met Gayle McClimon, who would become the mother of his children. After a small wedding, it was another relocation to Dallas where Matt, Kristin, Caroline, and Katy were born.
Bill loved coaching. Whether it was baseball in Coronado or football in Plano, Bill loved the interaction with the kids. And the kids loved him back.
Professionally, Bill had a long and successful career in the Title Insurance industry. It was there that he met Diane Monroe. Their love grew and they were married on May 29, 1992, which is the birth date of Bill’s late father.
Thirty years of happiness and joy ensued, loving their family, supporting their grand kids and living life. A great time gone too soon.
Bill was born into the Perry and Reynolds families. Survivors include brother Randy Perry and Suzzi, nephews Travis Perry, Taylor and Kahia Perry, and Spencer and Whitney Perry, uncle George and aunt Beverley Perry, aunt Carolyn Perry, cousins Alison and Don Greene and Diane and Tim Hutto, and cousins Pam Reynolds, Judy and Russ Gill, and Diane and Jefferey Landesberg, along with many great nieces, nephews, and cousins.
We especially want to remember his immediate family and honor the grief they feel: wife Diane Perry, son Matt Perry and Randi, daughters Kristin and Dan Edwards, Caroline and Frank Rubalcava, and Katy and Coner Seargeant. And how Bill loved his grandchildren: Trinity and Kyleigh Perry, Whitney Edwards, Will and Sam Rubalcava, Cory and Daphne Seargeant.
Others left to mourn and celebrate Bill’s passing are so many other friends, loved ones and acquaintances. Our special thanks go to Bill’s caregivers at Silver Leaf Assisted Living.
For all who knew Bill, loved him, enjoyed his company and laughed at his stories, and now share the grief at his passing and joy in his life, thank you.
Gifts in Bill’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Tributes and memories of Bill may be shared at RestlandFuneralHome.com.
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