William "Bill" Reddell

William Doyle (Bill) Reddell passed from this world to an eternal one on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at his home in San Antonio. He was born on May 2, 1924 near Idalou, Texas, the third of five sons born to Earl Watson and Lois Turner Reddell.

His parents and two brothers, Garland and David, preceded him in death.He is survived by his loving wife, Frieda, two brothers, Glen and James, son, Larry (JoAnne), daughter, Karen Roper, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Reddell graduated from Idalou High School in 1942.

He attended Wayland Baptist College for a semester. In the spring of 1943 he entered the U.S. Navy and served for nearly three years, with 24 months of service aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Suwannee. He served in eleven major engagements in the Pacific. After returning from the navy, Mr. Reddell attended Wayland for one year. He then farmed for three years near Idalou. He enrolled in Howard Payne College and received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1953. He then served the First Baptist Church in Pharr, Texas for two years as Minister of Music, Education and Youth. In 1955 Mr. Reddell began his career in education as a teacher in Midland, Texas, where he taught for two years, leaving in 1957 to continue his education at the University of Texas in Austin. He received his Master of Education degree in 1958. He returned to Midland as an elementary school principal, serving in that capacity for ten years. This included time as the principal of the district’s first integrated campus. The district recruited him for that position because of his record as a principal, and because he supported school integration.

He married Frieda Askew in Midland on December 20, 1962. In 1968 they moved to Lubbock, Texas. Mr. Reddell was instrumental in establishing the Adult Education Learning Center, which he served as center director for fifteen years. For thirteen years he also served as Assistant Adult Education Director. He spent much of his time developing materials for teaching adults basic reading, math and English skills, and training teachers in the use of these materials. He was a very early adopter of instructional software. After retirement in 1985, he and his wife traveled extensively doing research and published three books of family history.

For 38 years Mr. Reddell served as part-time music minister in various churches. He composed over 70 sacred songs, and continued the poetry writing he had begun in high school. Visitation is scheduled for January 14, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway. Services will be January 15 at 1:00 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 10715 West Avenue