William Arthur Tindell Jr.'s Obituary
William “Bill” Arthur Tindell, Jr., of Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully February 2, 2025 at age 94, surrounded by his loved ones.
Born August 23, 1930 in El Paso, Texas, Bill Tindell was the beloved son of William “Arthur” Tindell, Sr. and Myrtie Whitaker Tindell. He was the only brother to his three older sisters, Ruth McCabe, Betty Sievert, and Joyce Seeger, who predeceased him. He grew up in Uptown New Orleans, LA, where he claimed that at eight years old, he sauntered up to a bar and ordered his first cigarette and a beer. He attended Fortier High School, and established an early work ethic at the age of eight helping his father run guided fishing trips every summer weekend in the Mississippi Delta. At the age of 14 he walked a paper route throwing 247 New Orleans Times Picayune papers early each morning before high school. He often bragged about catching the streetcar for a nickel to the YMCA, where he developed the exceptional handball skills that got a working-class boy into a fraternity at Louisiana State University. It was at LSU that Bill met and married the love of his life, Jacqueline “Jackie” Marie Escousse. They were married for 45 happy years.
Bill Tindell graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge in 1953 as a petroleum engineer. With Jackie and his first-born son, William Arthur Tindell III (Kip), the young family left Baton Rouge for Lake Charles, LA, where Bill began his career with Halliburton. Bill worked diligently and joyfully with Halliburton all over the Western United States and Alaska. Timothy Dean Tindell (Tim) born in 1956, and his brother Kip enjoyed an idyllic childhood. In 1963, the family transferred with Halliburton to Dallas, TX. Bill was a fracking and completion expert who eventually opened his own private fracturing consulting company. He thrived at and loved his professional and social achievements and interactions, demonstrated by his long-term membership to countless organizations. But his greatest passion was for Jackie and their two boys. He and Jackie travelled extensively, and both loved ocean cruises. They socialized constantly with friends who could never decide which of the Tindells was the true life of the party. The Tindells truly cherished their old hometown, New Orleans, and frequently visited for parties, weddings and of course, Mardi Gras.
Bill was a hands-on dad: a Boy Scout leader, baseball coach and ever-present fishing companion to both of his boys. When he was blessed with two grandsons, Ty Arnold Tindell and Kip William Tindell, he continued that same devotion, always traveling with them and ever ready with a fishing pole to join them at any fishing hole. His tradition of loving dedication continued with the apple of his eye and thus far, his only great grandchild, Clyde William Dean Tindell. Bill attended ball games and fished with the young fellow, who he swore was a natural born fisherman.
Bill lost the love of his life, Jackie, in 1997, but continued to love her until the end, never failing to glance at her portrait as he entered his living room nor missing a chance to tell a story about her, and their lives together. Bill was an avid golfer, and a prostate cancer survivor for more than 50 years. He was renowned as a kind man with a boisterous sense of humor, a wealth of wisdom, and a talent for storytelling. Bill is survived by his sons, Kip (Sharon), Tim (Anne), his grandsons, Ty (Mona), Kip William (Aubree), his great-grandson, Clyde, and his companion of many years, Caroline Cross, of Franklin, TN.
Bill will be deeply missed, but his memory provides a rich blessing to his family, his extended family, and many friends. Services will be held at the Memorial Chapel at Restland Cemetery (13005 Greenville Ave.) on February 10th at 2 p.m., with a 1:00 p.m. viewing. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Bill’s honor to HLT Texas Shootout (www.hlttexasshootout.org), which honors Bill’s long-time neighbor and great golfing friend, Henry L. Talbert. The HLT Texas Shootout golf tournament benefits The Prostate Cancer Foundation, whose mission is to accelerate the world’s most promising research toward improved treatments and a cure for prostate cancer
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