William Eugene Warren III

Bill was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, where he was the eldest son of William Jr. and Theresa Warren and the brother of Jeffrey, Jonathan, and Leslie. Bill enjoyed life in Paterson with his lifelong friends Lawrence Nicholas and Clarence Rogers.

Bill’s journey led him from the streets of Paterson to the halls of Brown University, where he met the love of his life, Joy Wycliff. Together, they started a family in Providence, Rhode Island before relocating to Dallas, Texas, where he built a successful career as a self-taught computer programmer, employed by IBM, EDS, and BNSF. His innovative contributions earned him multiple patents, reflecting his remarkable ingenuity.

In 1988, Bill was ordained as a minister in the AME Zion Church, where he served as the pastor of Redeeming Covenant Church in Dallas. His desire for a thorough understanding of the Bible led him to study Greek, Latin, and Hebrew while in theology school. Bill was multilingual—proficient in English, Spanish, and French, and his enthusiasm for people and different cultures was evident in his dedication to learning additional languages.

Despite a life-altering stroke in 2004, which left him partially paralyzed and with limited speech (aphasia), Bill’s drive, indomitable spirit and resilience never waned. He retired from his role as a Senior Systems Developer at BNSF, but his joy and zest for life remained ever-present. Defying the odds with remarkable grit and determination, the Lord blessed him to live another 20 years.

Bill’s outgoing personality shone through even the toughest times. Known for his sense of humor, friendliness, and steadfast faith in The Lord, Bill made friends wherever he went— the senior citizen center, the rec, at his Aphasia support group, speech therapy sessions, church, and even at Sam’s Club, his favorite hangout spot.

Bill also had a deep love for music and was an active member of the Brown Black Chorus, the Gates of Praise Choir, and various church choirs. His eclectic musical tastes and enthusiasm for music began when he was a DJ and greatly influenced his family, creating lasting memories and connections through the power of music. His passions for singing, playing chess, golfing, bowling, and fishing were cherished by those around him.

Bill was a loving and supportive husband to Joy and a proud father to William IV, Michaela, Adam, Lori, Faith, Stephen, Esther, Joel; and his daughters-in-law, Sarah and Wisteria. Bill is survived by his seven grandchildren—William V, Gerald, Christian, Kian, Aaron, Jordyn, and Myla—as well as his siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was always proud and eager to introduce his family to the friends he made throughout his journey.

Bill's legacy of joy, vigor, and faith will be remembered by all who knew him. His spirit lives on through the countless lives he touched and the many hearts he warmed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Aphasia Association, reflecting Bill's commitment to raising awareness to the challenges that those with Aphasia face.