William Martin Price

Service: 10 a.m. Friday in Chapel of the Chimes at Laurel Land of Fort Worth.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to his beloved Southside Masonic Lodge No. 1114, Box 330582, Fort Worth, Texas 76163.

He was born in Breckenridge on Feb. 24, 1921, to Newton Greenwood Price and Nevada Odessa Toland Price. His mother died in childbirth when he was a boy and he learned to be self-sufficient at a very young age and throughout the Great Depression. He met his future bride, Dorothy Lee Rector, on a blind date on New Year's Eve in 1939. They were married Aug. 24, 1942, only nine days before he entered the United States Army in the 8th Army Air Force as a mechanic for automotive and other wheeled vehicles during World War II. He worked with the ordnance company attached to the Air Corps in the European theater in England. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 11, 1945, although he was on a ship bound for the Pacific ready to continue his service when the war ended.

Prior to entering the service, he worked for the Texas-Pacific Coal and Oil Co. of Breckenridge for over two years. After his service he returned to Breckenridge and he and Dorothy relocated years later to Fort Worth, where he continued his career with the Humble Oil Co., later Exxon, and then ExxonMobil as an engineer. He traveled extensively throughout his large territory, often taking Dorothy with him along for the ride and the company. Together they logged thousands of miles traveling throughout the country for pleasure, bowling tournaments, golf and Army reunions, which continued for several decades. Each trip was logged into a journal and a United States map carefully reflected lines over each road and highway traveled throughout their journey together.

Bill joined Southside Masonic Lodge No. 1114 in Fort Worth in 1955 and enjoyed his service to that organization for which he was very proud. He had just reached his 60-year Masonic service date prior to his death.

Dorothy was a loving and devoted wife and Bill was a loving and devoted husband, taking care of her for the remainder of their 65 years together until her passing in 2007. Although they never had children, they enjoyed their nieces and nephews in California and Texas. Bill retired from ExxonMobil in 1982 but remained interested in the company, his former colleagues and their business for the remainder of his years. After Dorothy's death and a few months home alone, Bill decided to enter into Sunrise Assisted Living of Fort Worth to enjoy the social activities of his peers after health challenges in 2009 and was a resident there until his death, even serving several years as president of the Residents' Council. After having been somewhat of a father figure to his niece, Cindy Woodard Ceen of Dallas, since her teenage years, roles were reversed and Cindy began to manage his affairs, fulfill his shopping lists and enjoy outings and lunches with her favorite uncle. As a member of the so-called Greatest Generation, Bill was known to hold those qualities which valued service to country, hard work and devotion to family and friends. His wife, Dorothy; brother, Wiley; and nephews, Larry Miller and Rex Woodard, predeceased him.

Survivors: Sister, Frances Gardner of San Marcos; niece, Cindy Ceen and her husband, Dr. Richard F. Ceen; and numerous other nieces and nephews.