Billy Gene Blumenshine

Bill Blumenshine passed away on April 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas. He was 93 years old. He was born in Tioga, Texas on April 3, 1932 to Ralph & Mary Blumenshine in the country home of his maternal grandparents James & Ada Lee Hensley. The family later moved to Washington, Illinois to be close to Bill’s paternal grandfather, Dr. Emil Blumenshine, a veterinarian. He loved sports and was an outstanding athlete excelling in basketball, baseball and track & field. He was the starting third baseman for the Washington Town Baseball Team at the age of 15 on a team comprised mainly of players in their mid-20’s and was scouted by the St. Louis Cardinals until a shoulder injury ended his baseball career. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Hesselein in 1952. Bill and Pat enjoyed 73 years of happy marriage.

Bill served his country in the U.S. Navy Seabees and was stationed in Nova Scotia, Canada and French Morocco, Africa. He graduated from Texas Tech University, earning a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering. He played basketball on a Navy Team competing in a Canadian Semi-pro league and earned a spot on the Texas Tech basketball team as a walk-on. He entered the Insurance Industry and spent a 30 year career with The Travelers Insurance Company, representing the company on numerous industry boards and committees, ultimately retiring in 1990 as a Vice President of the company. In 1991, he and Pat moved to The Woodlands, Texas where they built their retirement home.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his first granddaughter, Jessica Castillo.

Bill is survived by his loving wife Pat, his sister Nelda (Bob) McCallister, his children Jody (Tom) Castillo and Mark (Donna) Blumenshine, his four grandchildren Garrett Blumenshine, Courtney (Matt) Clinefelter, Paige (Simon) Porter, Nicole (Sam) Brown and seven great grandchildren, Beaux Porter, Cash Porter, Pierceton Porter, Camden Clinefelter, Grayson Clinefelter, Hunt Brown & Hays Brown.

Bill and Pat were faithful, long-time members of the Church of Christ and worshiped in Houston, Plano and The Woodlands, Texas throughout the years, most recently as members of Woodland Oaks Church of Christ.

Bill loved his family and enjoyed many family gatherings throughout the years. He was a woodworking craftsman and enjoyed reading, Sunday afternoon NFL football games, his daily mountain dew, evening bible study groups, the Shadowpoint neighborhood dinner group of many years and traveling. He and Pat traveled through Europe, the Far East and Canada, enjoyed island vacations in Bermuda, Barbados and the Hawaiian Islands and extensive travels in the U.S.

A Graveside Service will be held at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038 on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made on behalf of Bill to Smile Train at www.smiletrain.org.