Billy W. Kemp

Billy W. Kemp passed away on Tuesday, March 22nd at Medical City Hospital in Dallas surrounded by his family. He was born on February 9th, 1933 in Bowling Green, KY. Always glad to say he was born a Kentuckian, he attended Western Kentucky University where he played on the golf team. He then proudly served in the U.S. Navy, but not before marrying the love of his life Joyce Freeland on March 17, 1956. The consummate salesman, in the best sense of the word, he worked the bulk of his adult life for Ethicon Inc., making friends with surgeons and operating room nurses all over the United States. He was always kind, always funny, and always the sharpest dressed man around. He enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting, the Kentucky Derby, a Willie Nelson song, and a finely mixed cocktail. He loved being a Texan. He was a self-taught master woodworker, home remodeler, and landscaper. And he was almost always with a daschund at his side, first Sam, then the past 10 years with his buddy, Rudy. As his physical strength diminished in the past few years, he enjoyed nothing more than being with his family. His pride in his grandchildren was boundless, as was his pure happiness in being with them. Bill was preceded in death by his parents W.A. Kemp and Elizabeth Callis Kemp, and his brother Joe Kemp. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Joyce; his sister Mary Elizabeth Foster and her husband Don Foster of Pittsburgh, PA; his brother James Kemp and his wife Ellen of St. Helena, SC; his son Scott Kemp and wife Sharon; his daughter Kathy Hopkins and her husband Roger Hopkins; and his grandchildren Janey Kemp, Abby Kemp, Mary Beth Kemp, Katy Hopkins and Patrick Hopkins, all of Dallas, TX. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Medical City, and especially Dr. Alan Shulkin and Dr. Micheal Gruber. A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 28th at 2 PM at Spring Valley United Methodist Church, 7700 Spring Valley Rd., Dallas, TX. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Spring Valley United Methodist Church.