William Robert Steel's Obituary
William Robert Steel, 94, of Grand Prairie, TX went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 20, 2018.Bill was married for 74 years to Emma Lou Leitner, his high-school sweetheart. He served the Lord faithfully, and was a devoted family man. Mr. Steel was truly an artist and was always doing something creative with his hands. He was a watchmaker, jeweler and hand engraver. He also had an extreme talent for woodcarving.After serving proudly overseas in the Army Airforce during World War II, Mr. Steel owned a retail jewelry store in downtown Amarillo for 20 years. He then moved his family to the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, where he worked as a service supervisor for Bulova Watch Company, and then went back into business for himself as a watchmaker until he retired at age 89.Mr. Steel was generous to a fault. He never met a stranger, and always had a twinkle in his eye. Children and adults alike were always prime audiences for Bill’s sleight of hand tricks, and funny jokes, which he notoriously laughed at himself before hitting the punchline.Bill is survived by his wife, Emma Lou; daughters, Janet Elliott (Darrell), Jeanne Grinaldi (John); grandchildren, Darrell D. Elliott, Jr. (Betsy), Kristina Williams (Dustin), Amanda Fergusson (Derek), Chet Grinaldi (Whitney); great-grandchildren, Sarah Elliott, Emma Williams, Isabella Williams, William Elliott, Liam Fergusson, Zuri Grinaldi, Kellan Fergusson and John Levi Grinaldi.Services will be 12:00pm (noon) on Monday, January 29, 2018, with visitation one hour prior, at Gateway Church, Grand Prairie Campus at 2404 N. Carrier Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. A graveside service will follow at 2:00pm at the DFW National Cemetery at 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211.In Lieu of Flowers a donation may be made to Gateway Church Missions. Checks: Payable to: Gateway Church Mission Fund Memo: Donation to Missions fund–William Robert SteelMail checks to: Gateway Church Gina Henry, Accounting Department 500 S Nolen Dr/ Southlake, TX 76092 Online Giving: http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/life/tithes-egiving Create an account and Select “Missions- where needed most”Then email: Gina Henry at gina.henry@gatewaystaff.com to let her know that a donation to Missions Fund was made in remembrance of William Robert Steel (Please state the $ amount given).Donation fund will be available for 30 days.
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