William Adrian Dulaney

Funeral: 3pm Monday, Jan 12, Laurel Land 7100 Crowley Rd Fort Worth, TX 76134

Visitation: 6pm-8pm Sunday, Laurel Land 7100 Crowley Rd Fort Worth, TX 76134

William was born July 21, 1920 in Houston, MS to Charley and Ada May ‘Burke’ Dulaney, their 5th child. Ada passed away after his birth, and William grew up in the care of Ada’s surviving siblings, the Burke Family, whom he loved dearly. At age13, his family moved to the Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas. He married Julia Ann Howard on Oct 14, 1940 in Mercedes, TX. He served in the US Navy during WWII aboard the attack transport, USS Grafton, Aug 1944-Feb 1946, which participated in the last days of the Battle of Okinawa, the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater. Two of his brothers served in WWII; Doss Dulaney, US Army in Europe and Woodrow Dulaney, Sea Bee’s in the Pacific. William was Chief Tool & Dye Maker for 35+ years at General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington, TX. He and Julia raised 2 sons, Douglas and Richard. He was a well-respected machinist, who had a reputation for being able to ‘make anything’. Several of his innovative tool designs were copied and used in other GM Assembly Plants. He simultaneously operated a private welding shop on S. Cooper St, where his workmanship gained the attention of Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington. He built the Trams that were pulled by a small tractor, carrying park visitors from the vast parking lot to the main entrance. Six Flags was so impressed by his product; they ordered more Trams, destined for their other parks, nationwide. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and traveling to visit family, and golf in his retired years. His life examples of hard work, quick witted humor and gentle kindness are fondly remembered by all who knew him.

William was preceded in death by Julia in Jan 2006. They were married for 65 years. Also preceding him in death were his parents and a granddaughter, Heather Dulaney.

Survivors: son Douglas Dulaney of Egan, TX, son Richard Dulaney and wife Peggy of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Chris Dulaney and wife Lori of NRH, Ginger Martin and husband Richard of Helotes, TX, Tony Dulaney of Fort Worth, Stefani Edmondson and husband Matt of Arlington, and Stacey Dulaney of Egan; great-grandchildren, Richard III and Brandon Martin, Riley and Carley Edmondson, and Aurora Dulaney; and many dear kinfolk in Meridian, MS and around Texas

A House By The Side of The Road

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn

In the place of their self-content;

There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,

In a fellowless firmament;

There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths

Where highways never ran-

But let me live by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by-

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat

Nor hurl the cynic's ban-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road

By the side of the highway of life,

The men who press with the ardor of hope,

The men who are faint with the strife,

But I turn not away from their smiles and tears,

Both parts of an infinite plan-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,

And mountains of wearisome height;

That the road passes on through the long afternoon

And stretches away to the night.

And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice

And weep with the strangers that moan,

Nor live in my house by the side of the road

Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by-

They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,

Wise, foolish - so am I.

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban?

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.