Bill Gill

Bill was born in Dallas and moved to Midland in 1949. He was the son of William Doyle Gill of Bellevue, TX, and Verna Matilda Clark Gill of Mansfield, LA. He attended Robert E. Lee High School and continued his education at Texas A&M University, serving in the Air Force Corps of Cadets. Bill's favorite memory of A&M was receiving a Cadet Formal Inspection from Major General James Earl Rudder himself, for whom Rudder Tower (on the A&M campus) is named. In 1931, Rudder was the roommate of Bill’s dad, W.D. Gill Sr.,when the black-and-white mutt that would later become Reveille I was found and brought back to Legett dormitory to be nursed back to health. Bill's dream of piloting the F4-J Phantom was shot down in flames due to his 6’ 4" height, so he concluded his education with an Associate of Science Degree from Odessa College in 1969.

Bill’s early passion in life was cars. He fixed them, modified them, and raced them. His favorite cars were the 1969 Dodge Charger R/T that he and his dad bought new off the showroom floor and the 1979 Lincoln Continental Cartier Edition he bought for himself when “his ship came in.” Better than each of these, though, was his first car – a 1955 Buick that a neighbor PAID HIM $25 to drag off of his property and onto the Gill Family driveway, much to Verna's displeasure.

Upon returning to Midland, Bill became a life-long “oil man” in the Midland/Odessa area. He worked for many years with both Dyne-Mac and Bingham Pumps, selling and servicing oil pumps. For the past decade, he has worked for Albritton Machine, Inc. as Danny Albritton's “right hand man,” with responsibilities and territories expanding to the all the way to Kansas. Chances are if you have used any petrochemical product in West Texas since the 1970’s, Bill most likely had a part in transporting it to you.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman who loved guns, hunting, and camping. He had an extensive gun collection and loved to tell hunting stories (over and over and over!). While there may have been exaggerations in the size of the prey he was stalking, or the life-challenging conditions of his camping location, his stories were always entertaining.

Bill loved dogs, particularly the Shih Tzu and Pekingese breeds. His three loyal companions in life were Chin Li, Su Li, and Maximillian the Hound.

Bill’s home was always open to others and was a frequent social gathering place. The TV was guaranteed to be blaring an Outdoorsman show or a black-and-white Western movie. He enjoyed having family and friends come visit him, where he would hold court from his broken-down recliner.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William Doyle and Verna Gill. Bill is survived by his sister Wilma Ann Gill Hill and husband Dave of Arlington, and his nephews Bryan Hill and wife Karla of Dallas and John Hill of Fort Worth, along with numerous cousins and good friends. He made an impact on those who knew him, and he will be dearly missed.

A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at Ellis Funeral Home, at 801 Andrews Highway in Midland, at 3:00 PM Thursday, June 25, 2015. Please plan to stay for a small reception afterward so the family can hear some new and different stories about Bill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bill's name can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com