Billy Ray Steinkamp

Billy Ray Steinkamp passed away Saturday night after a long battle with Dementia and Pneumonia. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 P.M. Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at Cole Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Crawford with Pastor Tom Beers officiating. Interment will follow in St. Paul Memorial Park under the direction of Cole Funeral Home, 1113 West Fifth Street, McGregor.

Billy was born November 19, 1929, the son of the late Fred and Nelda (Geltemeyer) Steinkamp in Crawford, Texas. On May 26, 1950, he married Nelva Doris Westerfeld at Canaan Baptist Church in Crawford. They have made their home in Crawford. Billy graduated from Crawford High School and had an Associates Degree from McLennan Community College in Waco. He was a lifetime member of Peace Lutheran Church, later St. Paul Lutheran Church in Crawford. Billy served on the church council for many years and enjoyed singing in the church choir.

He was employed by Amsler’s in McGregor, owned Steinkamp Implement Company in McGregor and worked at General Tire in Waco, Tonk Products in Crawford where he lost his right hand in a conveyor belt accident. He later went to McLennan Community College in Waco to become a computer programmer, received an Associates Degree and worked at First National Bank in Waco as a computer operator for four years. Billy worked in Austin, Texas for an insurance firm. He worked for Northrup Seed Company and sold electric fence equipment. Billy was a Certified Peace Officer and Constable for twenty years for McLennan County. He retired in 2002 from McLennan County, however he still worked security at Ranch House Bank on Highway 6 and FM 185 for numerous years where he never met a stranger.

Billy loved to hunt doves and participated in the One Arm Dove Hunt for many years after he lost his hand. He also enjoyed playing dominoes at the Senior Center.

Also preceding him in death was a son-in-law, David Bone.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-three years, Nelva; two sons, Fred Steinkamp and wife Kay of Richmond, Ricky Steinkamp and wife Angela of Crawford; a daughter, Linda Bone of Huntsville; nine grandchildren, Sara Steinkamp, Lacey Sparkman and husband Ryan, Erin Nelson and husband Stephen, Jedediah Bone and wife Jennifer, Josiah Bone, Elizabeth, Maggie, Daniel and Lucas Steinkamp; five great grandchildren, Zoey and Riley Sparkman, Raylan Bone, Tristan and Tytan Nelson