Dr. William Edmond Wicheta Jr.

Husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, chemist, dentist, decorated WWII combat veteran, genuine cowboy, hunter, mountaineer, fisherman, skier, woodworker, photographer, marksman, parachutist, pilot, UT football player, craftsman. Our father was all of these and more. He lived a life bridging the two worlds of old Texas pioneers and modern science, while being the ideal husband and father.

Born in Taylor, TX on Oct 21, 1926 his father died fighting a fire and he and his sister grew up in poverty. Sent to west Texas for supposed health issues, he grew up on his Uncle’s isolated ranch without electricity or plumbing. This taught self-sufficiency and he learned to fix about anything. He also learned to ride and learned to be an expert hunter and marksman, skills that he felt kept him alive in the war.

At age 17 he enlisted in the US Army and served in the Pacific with the 25th infantry, getting a battlefield promotion to sergeant, engaging in behind the lines assignments and earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart, sustaining wounds that would plague him in later life. His 25th infantry was the first regular army troops to occupy mainland Japan after the surrender.

On return he married Virginia Weinheimer. Her father had some reservations about Bill initially, as while dating Virginia, he had rented a plane in Austin, flew out to the countryside in Stonewall where they lived, and made several passes buzzing their house to impress his new girlfriend. Alvin Weinheimer, a stoic German fellow, was not impressed!

After the start of their over 70 year marriage, they worked their way through college at the University of Texas. His jobs included building the Max Starcke Dam, working with the Texas Rangers as a bodyguard to the Texas Governor Al Shivers, rough necking in oil fields and a water taxi driver. He obtained a degree in Chemistry and graduated second in his class of 60 from Baylor Dental School in 1956 and opened an office on Burnet Rd where he practiced for over 40 years.

Growing up on a west Texas ranch had given him that open, easy cowboy way and he could make friends with just about anyone he met. In fact, it was often said that he could make friends with a fence post! He was also progressively ahead of his time and place in setting the example of non-bigotry to his kids.

Growing up without a father made him committed to prioritizing his 3 children. He still managed to have a very busy dental practice (at one time the busiest practice in Austin), become a competitive golfer, and won many bass fishing tournaments, being inducted into the Texas State Bass Tournament Hall of Fame in 2005. He was a key founder of some Texas fishing and hunting clubs, taught his kids to hunt, got a private pilot’s license with instrument and multiengine rating, and volunteered free care to Brackenridge Hospital ER.

Later in life he took up knife making of numerous types. His Ek army combat knife reproduction was so excellent strangers began commissioning him to make copies. Inspired by his trips to Alaska by the Inuit, he began to do beautiful soapstone carvings. He was asked by Glastron Boats to be a consultant when they developed a bass boat line. Whatever he pursued, he worked to master it. He developed a patent on an oral care product that was bought by Pfizer.

In his 40’s he led his family’s new obsession with backpacking, mountaineering and climbing. He thus, for once, broke a promise, the promise he made to himself as he was discharged from the army to never ever wear a pack again! He was as delighted, as his family, to have summited Mt. Rainier with his wife and all of his children when they were quite young (ages 9, 13 and 15).

About the same time he started skydiving, getting his own gear and making many free falls. He was always trying new things, as when he got on a bread making kick and supplied the family with sourdough bread for years.

Visits and adventures with a longtime friend, a younger dentist in Anchorage, prompted him to get an Alaskan dental license allowing him to work part time up there.

He loved his music, first the music he grew up with, artists such as Marty Robbins, Charlie Pride, Jim Reeves, Nat King Cole, Hank Snow and others. Even as his mind faded, he could still remember all the old lyrics and sing along. Later he embraced the folk music of Tom Paxton, John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Kris Kristofferson and Jim Croce.

He supported his kids in all their interests and endeavors, and with them took up their newest pursuits of canoeing, cross country and downhill skiing - the latter near age 60. His mentorship as a health care provider produced careers of pharmacist, physician and dentist for his three children, a nurse practitioner granddaughter and two grandchildren as dentists. All his grandchildren are wonderful citizens, the others (granddaughters) being a tech world business success, a college and career counselor, a mechanical engineer, and ad executive/mother.

As he faded in later life both physically and mentally, he remained a cheerful and pleasant person to all around him, including all his care staff, to the very end.

After two years in hospice, longer than the family imagined possible, the old cowboy went to the final range on June 28, 2019, at the age of 92. Virginia, still alive, lost the love of her life after 71 years of marriage. Among his last cogent words were the eagerness to see his sister and mother again. His was a life well lived. A toast to our best friend in life.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Wicheta, and his sister Dorothy and her husband James T. Thompson. Survivors include his wife Virginia, daughter Susan Fuchs and husband John of Galveston; Bill Wicheta and his wife Lesley of Wenatchee, WA; Tom Wicheta and his wife Kim of Austin; Grandchildren Virginia and Moritz Brandt; Lauren and Kyle Discher; Janet Fuchs; Kelley and Tim Zinka; Kathryn Wicheta; William and Carresse Wicheta; and Sarah Wicheta. Great grandchildren include Westley, Amy, Sarah Kathryn, and Scarlett.

Deep appreciation and thanks to Grace Hospice Austin, Austin Wellness and Rehabilitation Center, and to Lorie for her friendship and help with Virginia and Bill.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 14th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home on North Lamar. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2019 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 4311 Small Dr. There will be a graveside service on Tuesday, July 16th at 11:15 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Texas State Bass Tournament, The Nature Conservancy, or to a charity of your choice.