Billy Jack Whitener, 84, passed away on Monday, February 18, 2019 at his home in McKinney, TX. Bill was born in Wheeler, TX on August 5, 1934 to Herman Lee and Dottie Mae (Rhine) Whitener. The oldest of four children, Bill moved from Wheeler to Levelland where he grew up and graduated from high school.
Bill married his childhood sweetheart, Ollie Faye Cooper, on November 6, 1953. The couple has been married for just over 65 years.
As a newlywed, Bill worked in the oil fields of Texas. After starting a family with three children, he went on to have a long career in the snack food industry. He worked at Frito-Lay from 1963-1984, going on to work at Snyder’s of Hanover and then Utz Quality Foods. Bill did consulting work before retiring in 2002. During his years in the snack food industry, Bill, his wife, Ollie, and their children lived in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Bill had a love of gunsmithing and was a world class marksman holding several records for benchrest and rimfire. He was a lifelong NRA member as well as a member of North Texas Shooters Association, National Benchrest Shooters Association, and Arlington Gun Club. He enjoyed sharing his expertise with fellow gun club members.
Woodworking and woodcarving was another of Bill’s hobbies. He made many items for family members and enjoyed carving caricatures. All the grandchildren have cowboys, bears, bulls, and other creatures Bill created.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Ollie; daughter, D’Wanna Whitener and her husband, Dennis Smith; son, Jackie Dale and his wife Cynthia, and son, Berkley Bill and his wife Catherine; grandchildren, Hunter Whitener-Smithand wife Minh Nguyen, Avery Whitener-Smith, Eric Whitener, Colton Whitener, Anna Whitener Arvai and husband Scott, Austin Whitener and wife LeeAnne; a great-granddaughter Ava Violet (due in May); two sisters, Donna (Whitener) Miller, and Shirley (Whitener) Baccus. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Gloria (Whitener) Shaw.
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