William A. Raeke

Bill was born July 29th, 1930 in Houston, TX to Herman and Julie (Tolle) Raeke. He was the oldest of three sons and married Norma Scoggins of Smithville, TX in June 1958.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Norma; brothers Howard of Henrietta, Henry and wife Paula of West Columbia; sons William (Bill) Jr and wife Cheryl of Wichita Falls, Rob and wife Tamara of Sherwood, AR; five grandchildren, Will and wife Desi, Ryan and wife Becky, Madison, Lauren and Alexis; five great grandchildren, Baron, Mathew, Birdie, Debbie and Ruby and several nieces and a nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Helen and nephew Andy.

Bill graduated from Smithville High School in 1947, Blinn College in 1949 and Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1950. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served four years active duty attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant at Sheppard Air Force Base as an instructor of aircraft Hydraulics and Maintenance. Following his active duty he returned to Sheppard as a Civil Service instructor teaching such subjects as computers, missile launch, mathematics, statistics, management and various other business related courses in the Officer’s school. Following his retirement in 1986 he began working for Skylark Van Service. In this new job, he continued his longtime daily pattern of being at Shephard early every morning but now he transported Airman back and forth to DFW airport. He retired from Skylark in 1998.

Bill was a lifelong Car Nut. He collected and memorized car magazines and car brochures of most all makes and models for much of his life. He could give you mechanical specifications for many cars going back to the 1920s. He passed on this passion to his sons who fondly remember spending Saturday mornings as kids walking salvage yards or car lots learning about cars.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be made in honor of Bill to the American Cancer Society.

Services will be held 2 PM February 20, 2021 at the Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Hampton Vaughan Crestview Memorial Park.