William Henry Lauderdale

William Henry Lauderdale (Bill), 76, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, in Killeen, TX following a battle with dementia. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Bill was born on December 29, 1949, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Jo Ann Lauderdale Jones of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Bill Lauderdale of Vallejo, California. He graduated from Ardmore High School.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mariann Lauderdale; his two daughters, Becky (Jared) Hurt of Austin, Texas, and Elizabeth Lauderdale of Killeen, Texas; and his brother, Rick (Debbie) Lauderdale of Alexandria, Virginia.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Madison Lauderdale of Killeen, TX; McKayla Hurt of Austin, TX; and Ryn Lauderdale, Hunter Nelson, River Nelson, and Peyton Nelson of Topeka, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his brother, Mark Lauderdale.

For more than 30 years, he was the proud owner and operator of a Sonic Drive-In. His dedication to his business and the people he served was an important part of his life and legacy. He took pride in his work and in the relationships he built throughout the years.

Outside of work, Bill had many passions. He loved playing his Gibson and Rickenbacker guitars, riding his Yamaha motorcycle, playing golf, and looking forward to every NFL season as he proudly cheered on his favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Some of the fondest memories of Bill will be the simple things he enjoyed most—making homemade pies, sharing a good cake donut with a cup of coffee, enjoying music, and spending time with the people he loved. His sense of humor, sweet tooth, love of music, passion for football, and sweet personality brought joy to those around him.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the hospice team for the compassionate care and comfort they provided to Bill and his family during his final days.

In keeping with his wishes, a private service will be held at a later date. Family and friends will be invited to gather at a later time to celebrate his life and honor the memories he leaves behind.