William "Bill" Meredith

William "Bill" Norval Meredith, 89, of Winnsboro, Texas, passed into the arms of his Heavenly Father the morning of October 13th, 2025, after a few short months battling lung cancer. Funeral services for Bill will include a viewing at 2:00 pm and a service at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Stagner Baptist Church in Hawkins, Texas. Brother Don Whisenhunt will be officiating with assistance from Bill’s grandson, Jesse Flowers. Arrangements are under the direction of McWhorter Funeral Home. Bill was born on May 12, 1936, in New Jersey. His father, a West Point graduate and member of the Army Air Corps First Pursuit Group and Early Birds, was a retired captain. At that time, he was working as a test pilot at the Radio Aircraft Corporation, where he assisted in Jimmy Doolittle’s success at the first instrument landing of an aircraft. During World War II, his father was recalled to active duty and was stationed along the south Texas coast. He then moved to Great Falls, Montana, where his father became a colonel and commanded Malmstrom Air Force Base, known as “East Base” back then. His father kept a residence in South Texas, where he trapped migrating peregrine falcons on South Padre Island, and also bought a ranch in Montana. He would travel between the two locations at different times of the year. Bill’s father is considered to be the “Father of American Falconry,” and Bill grew up participating in every aspect of the sport. This included being lowered over cliffs in Montana to retrieve fledgling falcons, building traps, hunting for fresh meat to feed them, and various other tasks. He was given a single-shot .22 caliber rifle to hunt with so he wouldn’t “waste bullets”. He excelled at it and became a crack shot. He loved his time living on his Father’s ranch in Montana. He watched as Finnish craftsmen notched logs to perfectly fit together for the cabin they built. There was no power, so the rear wheel of a truck with a belt on it was used to mix up the concrete. He was just a boy at the time and never forgot the way they constructed the cabin. As a teen, he learned from old cowboys how to ranch cattle and spent a summer working as a wrangler at Glacier National Park Lodge. There, he gathered and equipped horses for pack trips into the mountains. He and a buddy left Montana soon after that summer to join the rodeo in Ft. Worth, where he had spent time in his childhood. After a bull ride attempt, Bill decided that was not the career for him. Bill very proudly served our country in the United States Marine Corps. He joined when he was 20 and became an aircraft electrician. Originally stationed in Florida with a bunch of old World War II veterans who mentored him, he transferred to a Naval Air Station in Dallas after his base closed. After the Marines, he went into the airline industry. In the early 1960s, he worked for Braniff Airlines for eleven years as a mechanic, electrician, and foreman. In 1970, he joined Southwest Airlines. This was in the beginning when there were only three or four jets flying between Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. They now have over 900 aircraft. He wore many hats at Southwest, including mechanic, electrician, maintenance superintendent, training officer, and contract negotiator. He would fly into new cities that would become a part of the flight routes and set everything up to maintain the aircraft and take care of any problems. He had a number of close calls while flying over the years, troubleshooting problems, but fortunately, made it through. He was proud to belong to the group of some of the first ones to help the airline achieve the success it has. Bill always loved classic cars and spent numerous hours tinkering. He loved nature and animals and had many cats over the years. He loved to talk to people, tell stories, and have fun. Going somewhere with him was always an adventure, and everyone loved him. He had beautiful white hair and sparkling blue eyes. He had a very quick wit and a way of putting things that was sometimes unexpected. He had a great sense of humor. He was generous, kind, and he will be missed by many. Bill was a member of Stagner Baptist Church and attended regularly. He was faithful and read his bible frequently. He had a little bit of a preacher in him and would express thoughts about his faith often. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Anita Lange Meredith; previous wives, Marcelene Meredith (deceased); Barbara York, Mother of his children; daughters, Deborah Meredith, Kathy Flowers, and Suzy Skegrud (Rick); his stepchildren, Atina, Eddie, and Misty; sister, Peggy Rudolph; brother-in-law, Alejandro Gomez; niece, Genia Matula (Scott); nephews, Kenny Crawford; Antonio Gomez; Alejandro Gomez Jr.; Andre Gomez; grandchildren, Tiffany Crumby; Weston Harris (Jessica); Will Harris; Gena Flowers; Jesse Flowers; and Sarah Skegrud; step grandchildren, Trent, Trevor, Megan, Hayden, Hunter, Caleb, Colton, Caden, Stephanie, Mark, Paul, and Matt; and great-grandchild, Charles Hayden Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Luff Meredith and Oakley Kathleen Judson; one brother, Russell Luff Meredith Jr.; one sister, Anne Oakley Gomez; one niece, Ana Carolina Gomez; and one stepdaughter, Dee Dee Shannon. Please visit Bill’s online registration book at www.mcwhorterfh.com to leave a memory for the family.

William "Bill" Meredith

May 12, 1936 - October 13, 2025