William Gentry Paxton

Bill was an artist with multiple talents. He was a photographer, calligrapher, musician, illustrator, and poet. He loved music and appreciated the beauty within the world around him Bill loved the Lord and studied the Bible daily. He was a great scholar of the Word. Bill was also a chef. He would work intensely to perfect any recipe he was preparing. Bill was a pitcher (slow) in the church league while in high school. His education was as vast as his interests and talents.

He attended Texas A&M, Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (FKA Corpus Christi State University), Arizona State, and earned multiple degrees, including a master's in computer science, as well as degrees in math and engineering. He also attended Alamo Community College and studied music. His hunger for knowledge never ceased. Bill also had a variety of careers. As a young man, he worked for Alamo Iron Works in a labor position. Bill served in the Army as a map compiler (topographical draftsman) and was honorably discharged on September 12, 1974. He received a medal as a sharpshooter. Bill was a social worker in Uvalde. He worked for the State of Arizona as a civil engineer. While living in Lafayette, he worked for the city manager as an engineer. His final employer was the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where he provided services in the compliance department. While working for the IRS, Bill independently studied for and passed the CPA exam. Bill resided in the historic King William’s District and walked on the riverwalk daily.

He greeted all his neighbors and passersby with a joyous, “Such a lovely day!” Everyone knew him. He was “King William”! Bill was a loving and adoring son to his mother, a wonderful brother to his sister, and a really cool uncle to his nieces and nephews. Bill had a well-lived life and has now returned home.