William Henry Stalker

William Henry Stalker, 81, of Concan, Texas, passed away on March 11, 2026. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Dr. Stalker, a retired Army Colonel and Ranger served as a periodontist, naturopathic physician, and ordained minister. He was known for his kindness, humor, and unwavering dedication to every person he encountered.

Bill was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 29, 1944, and grew up in nearby New Albany, Indiana. He graduated from New Albany High School, home of the Fighting Bulldogs, in 1962. Growing up with a beagle named Heiny, Bill spent his days travelling all over the rivers and creeks around New Albany on his bike with Heiny. He had fond memories of participating in the Soap Box Derby and playing football, basketball, as well as enjoying swimming and track. He loved to tell stories of his childhood in New Albany and remained in close contact with many friends and family members throughout his life.

After graduation, Bill was appointed to West Point in 1962 as a first alternate. He was notified the day after graduation that he was to report on July 2nd with the class of 1966. He passed all physical and mental exams, except for dental exams, where they noted 16 cavities that would need to be filled before reporting to West Point with a note that he had done so. He always laughed that it was rather ironic that he later became a dentist.

Bill graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1966. In a letter from his mother regarding his graduation from West Point, she wrote that while at West Point, he was “trained to be a man of honor and stature,” but she believed that this training only emphasized his “good character and intelligence” which he had shown all his life. During his years at the Academy, he liked to say he had joined the “Century Club,” the cadet nickname for those who racked up more than 100 demerits. It meant many long hours marching back and forth on punishment tours - “walking the area,” as cadets call it - a story he retold for the rest of his life with equal parts pride and amusement. Many other stories have been told of his days at West Point and the band of friends known as “The Zoo.” These young gentlemen gave each other nicknames, that stuck with them for 60 years of continued friendship; Crow, Sappas, Crate, Toad, Fox, Mule, Rooster, Muff, Tyro, Wren, Chugger, and of course Bill, who was Snork.

Bill deployed to Vietnam, where he served as the artillery commander with the 1st Cavalry Division, earning two Bronze Star Medals, the Vietnamese Service Medal, and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal. This is where he developed his well-known disdain for helicopters. Upon returning from Vietnam in 1969, he was admitted to dental school at the University of Indiana in 1970, where he graduated third in his class in 1974. He completed a general practice residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio in 1975, followed by a residency in periodontics at the U.S. Army Institute of Dental Research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. During this time, he also earned an M.S. degree in Oral Biology from George Washington University. Bill’s dedication and leadership showed early in his career. From the Class of 1966, he became the first of his classmates to achieve the rank of Colonel. True to Bill’s humble nature, he never mentioned it. In fact, the fact was only discovered years later during a conversation at one of the Zoo-unions — the annual or semi-annual gatherings of the “Zoo classmates.” He had several assignments as a periodontist in the U.S. Army, including serving as the Chief of Periodontics at S.H.A.P.E. (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), NATO’s international military headquarters located in Belgium. He also led the Department of Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting and Career Development at the U.S. Army Dental School at Fort Sam Houston. He became a diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology in 1983 and retired from the Army as a Colonel in 1986.

Dr. Stalker loved his work as a periodontist and took great pride in caring for his patients. He began working part-time as a periodontist in March 1986 and later transitioned to full-time practice after retiring from the military. Early in his career, he worked with his mentor, Dr. Claude Nabers and together, they co-authored the book Periodontal Therapy. He took over Dr. Nabers’ original periodontal practice on McCullough Avenue in San Antonio in 1987. Dr. Stalker also served patients throughout South Texas, with offices in places such as Uvalde, Gonzales, and Laredo, along with several other offices in San Antonio. Patients traveled from far and wide to receive his care. Dr. Stalker was a member of the Methodist Hospital system, where he worked with a hospital anesthesiologist to provide dental services for his patients that required a higher level of care and comfort. As a periodontist, Dr. Stalker developed significant expertise in dental implants, including catering to holistic patients, demonstrating the depth of his commitment to individualized care. He was deeply devoted to helping everyone, always searching for solutions, thinking outside the box when it came to treatment. His passion for learning never faded; he completed at least 30 hours of continuing education each year, staying current with the latest advances in periodontology and related fields. He was also a voracious reader of research and professional journals. In 2003, Dr. Stalker was nominated and inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists—an honor he rarely spoke about. He started his journey into more homeopathic medicine in 2014, incorporating ozone therapy into his practice. In 2022 he became a board-certified naturopathic physician and certified in Traditional Chinese Medicine. During all this, he was a certified CPR instructor who taught courses for dental office staff, regularly presented lectures to dental study groups and provided instruction for referring dentists on a variety of topics.

Bill’s dedication to his patients went far beyond the office. He always called them personally after procedures to check on their recovery and was available whenever they needed help including after hours, weekends, and holidays. On one occasion, he met a patient in a parking lot in Leakey to repair a crown that had fallen off. He treated his staff like family and believed work should be enjoyable, creating an atmosphere filled with laughter and camaraderie. Bill was a jokester in the office and loved keeping everyone smiling, though he was known to let his playful side really show at the office Christmas parties. Despite the fun and humor, he brought to work, Bill remained deeply committed to his patients until the very end—seeing patients the day before his surgery and joking, as he often said, “I’m no quitter.”

On December 31, 2004, while at House Pasture Cattle Company in Concan, he met the love of his life when Kim asked him to dance. That moment marked the beginning of a beautiful love story, and from that moment on, they were rarely apart. One year later, on December 31, 2005, they were married, beginning a life together rooted in deep love and companionship. What used to be simple trips became full-blown adventures once they were together. Kim and Bill loved meeting people wherever they travel. On one trip, they played volleyball on the beach with some strangers—and ended up being invited to their wedding because everyone adored them. While riding rented golf carts around Belize, thinking the cart was broken, Bill realized he had been cruising through town with his foot on the horn the whole time. Their adventures did not stop there—they were invited to…or crashed a wedding at the Vatican. In Costa Rica, during a dinner outing, Bill simply got up and joined a parade passing by. On his most recent cruise, he started a Conga Line through the dining room, followed by his grandchildren and many of the people in the dining room, dancing to the Macarena.

Bill loved scuba diving and believed any vacation could be improved by strapping on a tank and camera and disappearing underwater for a while. He dove in places like Cozumel and Bonaire, always returning with stories and a big grin. Though he and Kim enjoyed traveling, they never stayed away too long—there were grandchildren at home who were far more important than any destination. Bill’s greatest pride and joy were his grandchildren, and he was blessed to have seven of them. Over the years he collected many titles but cherished being Grandpa Bill the most.

Bill truly valued his relationships with people. His outgoing, gregarious personality helped him build many deep friendships and meaningful connections. He marveled at how small the world could feel when he met someone who shared ties with people or experiences he already knew. That sense of connection grew even stronger after he married Kim. Neither one of them met a stranger. Love of family made Bill and Kim’s home a special place. Their home very quickly became the gathering spot for all friends and family, filled with love and laughter. Holidays, birthdays, weekends, graduation, and any excuse to celebrate brought friends and family together. Guests were welcomed with great food, endless stories and jokes, hearty laughter, and countless cherished memories.

In recent years, Bill and Kim decided it was time to move. Bill joked that they were “downsizing,” and then promptly bought a 310-acre ranch. He loved sitting outside in the evenings, watching the sunset onto his mountain. He often said, “I own a mountain!” Bill shared that his hope was for the ranch to always be a place where the people he loved could come together—even after he was gone. None of us imagined it would be this soon, but we promise to continue his legacy by filling the place with the laughter, stories, and togetherness he cherished.

Bill was preceded in death by his father William W. Stalker, his mother, Bettye Jones, and his brother Marc G. Stalker. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kimberlea Stalker of Concan, TX; his children, Jennifer Stalker, Jackson Harper Ray and his wife Candace, Jared Hunter Ray and his wife Melissa, and Jaquelyn Haylea Vendola and her husband Justin; his grandchildren, Jack Parker Ray, Pierson Devan Ray, Prestin Arthur Ray, Presleigh Harper Ray, Thomas Arthur Best III, Madelyn Rose Ray, and Chloe Loucille Ray; his sisters, Sally Messing and her husband Paul, Eve Stalker and sister-in-law, Salena Stalker; Erin Robinson, whom he considered a daughter; along with many dear friends and loved ones.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Concan Volunteer Fire Department, https://concanvfd.org/