Billy L. Marcum

Billy Loring Marcum, was born on Wednesday October 19, 1932 and lived a blessed life that spanned almost ninety years. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather until the early morning hours of Wednesday April 20th 2022 when he quietly passed from this life into the loving arms of his Savior Jesus Christ.

Bill’s early years were spent growing up in Cement, Oklahoma during and after the Great Depression and World War II. He graduated Cement High School in the spring of 1950 and married the love of his life Joy Gay Wray on December 20th 1952. Bills’ college studies took him to the University of Oklahoma in Norman where he graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering.

After graduating University of Oklahoma Bill enlisted in the United States Airforce where he rose to the rank of Captain piloting helicopters while stationed at Graham & Tyndall Air Force Base(s). Bill and Joy started a family while in military service welcoming the birth of their first, Karen, at the Tyndall base. Bill was later stationed at Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada and ultimately retired from military service in 1958.

Bill began his professional career with Magnolia Oil Company in 1952 as a rough neck on a rig near Midland. TX. After college and military service Bill resumed his career with Magnolia, now Mobil Oil Corporation. While working for Mobil in Midland and after joining the First Baptist Church, Bill and Joy welcomed their second child, Susan. As a petroleum engineer Bill and his family traveled the world extensively during his career with Mobil. In 1975 Bill was the Mobil Executive charged with signing over the Alma Oil Fields to Egypt from Israel, this event reported on by the national news and documented in an article published by People Weekly in their October 1975 magazine issue. Bill retired from Mobil in 1987.

Bill, Joy, Karen and Susan spent their lives traveling abroad while Bill was working with Mobil. After his military service the family started out in Midland before moving overseas to Libya, Dallas, London, New York and New Orleans only to retire back home in Midland. Bill and Joy were devoted Baptists involved in several programs at First Baptist of Midland teaching high school students and eventually helping the poor through First Baptists’ outreach programs and through Bill’s involvement in the Lions Club of Midland.

A warm, loving and gentle man, Bill led through a quiet, steadfast and determine style. Known as an intently thrifty man money was never an object when it came to his grandchildren. Bill was a tremendous Christian example of a man eternally devoted to his God, his work and family, especially his wife Joy. In his last years Bill and Joy would spend all their waking hours together each night nodding off together holding hands. Never a cross word, always a warm smile he will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Bill is survived by his wife Joy Wray Marcum, his two daughters Karen Marcum Fisher and Susan Marcum Hicks of Dallas, TX., son-in-law’s Bob Fisher and Marion Hicks of Dallas; grandchildren Christina Fisher Swanson, her husband Justin Swanson; MaryFrances Hicks Cooke, her husband Oliver Cooke; Katherine Fisher Kiter, her husband Matt Kiter and Marcum Hicks. And, great grandchildren Noah, Luke & Elise Swanson, Grayson Kiter and Faye Cooke; nieces and nephews Kristy Kennah, Shannon Taylor, Kelly Wray and Jennifer Taylor.

A funeral service for Billy will be held Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Sparkman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1029 South Greenville Ave, Richardson, TX 75081. Following the funeral service will be a committal service at 3:30PM at Fletcher Cemetery, 14429 North Drive, Comanche County, OK 73541.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Billy's memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or to Samaritan's Purse at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online/.