William V. Booth

William V. Booth Jr. passed away Friday, January 20, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 88. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 31,2017 in the Garden Chapel of the Alamo Heights United Methodist Church. Dr. Harold Burkhardt officiating.

William, "Billy", was born December 27, 1928, in Center, Texas, to parents, William Verner Booth Sr. and Bess Hill Booth, descendants of early pioneer Texas settlers.

Billy graduated from Center High school and attended Stephen F. Austin State University. On August 25,1951, Billy married Betty Anderson of Shelbyville. Their love of nature, the outdoors, and combined ranching heritages was always apparent.

While living on the Booth family ranch near Encinal, Texas, Billy accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior and during a First Baptist Church service held by our ranch lake, he was baptized.

Billy's driving force was finding greener pastures for his cattle. This afforded he and Betty, his wife of 65 years, the opportunity to enjoy many friends and unusual experiences beginning in Shelby county in East Texas, continuing to Webb, Live Oak, LaSalle, & Zavala counties in south Texas, then Harding and Union counties in Northern New Mexico.

Billy was known for being a good steward of the land, a protective caretaker of the wildlife, and a tireless supporter of civic organizations and youth programs. Past affiliations included Lions club- Three Rivers member, Stockmen's National Bank director- Cotulla, Texas Independent Cattleman's Assoc. member, American National Cattlemen member, & New Mexico Cattle Growers member.

Billy is survived by his wife, Betty Anderson Booth of San Antonio; Daughters, Joan Guttman and husband Ralph of Cotulla, Theresa McComas and husband Fred of San Antonio; Son, John V. Booth of Boerne; Grandson, Michael McComas of San Antonio; Nephews, Mike Middleton and wife Brenda of Boerne, Verner Wayne Middleton of San Antonio; Niece, Alice Joy Canales of Alice; Cousins, James Campbell and wife Mona of Center, Ronnie H. Booth of George West, and Joy Arant of Sterling, VA; Half-brother- in- law, Herb Anderson of Kilgore; Step sister- in-law:, Pam Chreene and husband Louis of Kilgore.

William "Billy", was preceded in death by his parents, William Verner Booth Sr. and Bess Hill Booth; Grandparents, W H Booth and Theodosia Lee Booth, C M Hill and Elizabeth Runnels Booth; Sister, Shirley Booth Middleton; and Son, William Thomas Booth.

His love of life was evident as he greeted everyone with a smile, maybe a joke or a special "nickname", and he possessed a keen sense of humor. Billy will be dearly missed, but always remembered as a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. He daily practiced the golden rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to: UTHSC-The William Thomas Booth Endowment In memory of his father, William V. Booth UT Health Science Center of San Antonio 7703 Floyd Curl Drive San Antonio, TX 78229-3900. https://makelivesbetter.uthscsa.edu/booth