CMSGT William James Dick, USAF (Ret.)

William (Bill) James Dick went to be with the Lord on November 12, 2011 at the age of 86. He was born in North Dakota and reared in Richey, Mo. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, father William and mother Lorena as well as his first wife, Frances Physina Risher from Lumberton Mississippi. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and a good friend to many. A WWII veteran, he joined the Army Air Corp cadet program near the end of the war and ended up going to gunnery school because there were enough pilots. He flew 13 missions as a ball turret gunner on B-17s Flying Fortress. Continuing with the military, he had a distinguished career in the Air Force serving in many areas of the world including Korea, MacDill AFB, Moody AFB, and Yakota, Japan. While in Japan, his family became very involved in the Kanto Plains Baptist Church where he was ordained as a Deacon and later licensed to preach. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant at Randolph AFB with 26 years. Continuing to serve after retiring from the Air Force he taught both History and Shop at Ed White Middle School for 10 years. After providing many years of dedicated care to his wife of 49 years who was afflicted with Alzheimer's, Bill met JoAnn Thomas Dick at Trinity and married on September 11, 2004. He then proceeded to spend his final 7 years visiting Australia, New Zealand, South America, Alaska, and the Bahamas also touring the United States in an RV. He was active and robust right up until the end, returning from a trip to Hawaii just 4 days before he fell ill with leukemia. He will be missed greatly by his wife, two daughters, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter. He will be remembered most for the impact he had on other people's lives, as a school teacher and as a Life Deacon at Trinity Baptist Church. His service at Trinity Baptist Church included working for many years on the Living Christmas Tree pageant, driving the Church Bus for the Sun Shine Singers and others and singing in the church chorale. Other affiliations included the XYZ's, life member of VFW Post 8555, member of the retired Teachers Assoc., Retired Chiefs Association. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to the benevolence fund of Trinity Baptist Church or a charity of your choice . Memorial services will be held at 11;00 AM Friday 23 December 2012 at Trinity Baptist Church on Mulberry street , San Antonio, Texas. Dr Les Hollen will be officiating. Burial will be full military honors at Fort Sam 2;00 PM Friday 23 December . Sunset Memorial Park and funeral home on Austin HWY in charge of the preparation.