William Edward Specht

William Edward Specht, age 93, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 23rd, 2015 in Austin, Texas. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to Birdie (Sturm) Specht and Joseph Edward Specht on November 26th, 1921.

Bill graduated from DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana in 1943 and served as a Captain in the Marines in World War II in Japan and the Korean War.

He worked for Shell Oil in Chicago, Illinois, owned a Pure Oil Gas Station in Wheaton, Illinois, and ultimately retired after a long employment with Exxon which took him from Chicago, Il, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Houston, Texas.

Bill was a self-made artist and photographer and won multiple awards in the Houston Art League, Exxon Art League, and the Woodlands, Texas Art League shows.

His hobbies also included golf, model trains, and lots of travel throughout the world and United States, much of which was by train.

Bill was a Past President and lifetime member of the American Legion post 76 in Wheaton, Illinois. He was also a past President/National Director of the National Railway Historical Society, Gulf Coast Chapter.

Bill is survived by his wife of 71 years Janet (Schneider) Specht; his son Robert William Specht and his wife Marcia; daughter Margery Olivia Hedges and her husband Bill; granddaughter Jaime Taylor Reynolds and her husband Ryan; grandsons: Stephen Hedges and his wife Beverly, Bill Hedges, Jr. and his wife Tami, Don Hedges and his wife Devin, and Michael Hedges and his wife Amy; 10 great- grandchildren: Brandon Hedges, Jessica Hedges, Ryan Hedges, Janelle Hedges, Desiree Neiswender, Breanna Hedges, Jeremy Hedges, Anelise Hedges, Piper Reynolds and Colette Reynolds; and finally, his 2 great-great-grandchildren: Levi Hedges and Nevaeh Hedges .

Bill will be interred in the Grace Garden at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, The Woodlands, Texas. No flowers please as there will not be a service at this time.