Bill Bloodworth

STILLWATER, Okla. Bill Bloodworth, longtime local businessman in Stillwater, Okla., died on March 7, from cancer. He was 71. Bill was born in Houston, Texas, the oldest child of Allen and Frances Bloodworth, and the oldest grandchild of families with deep roots in Texas (Walker, Bloodworth, Buchanan and Branch). He spent half his childhood in South East Asia, graduating high school in Bangkok, Thailand. Upon returning to the States, Bill came to Stillwater, where he married Karen Janet, and had two children. In 1964, he and Karen opened Bill's Italian Restaurant, a long-running local establishment, and 10 years later opened Willie's Saloon, both at 4th and Washington. Willie's became a central local venue for musicians, many of whom went on to larger success such as Jimmy LaFave and Garth Brooks. Bill loved the culture of relaxation, fun, food and music. A local character with many facets, Bill was known to be a voracious reader (of everything), a wide-ranging conversationalist, a collector of bad jokes, a prolific gardener, and an all around nice guy... and he played a mean hand of poker. He spent his life in the food and drinks trade, but the real currency he valued was kindness and generosity. That will be his legacy. He spent his last days surrounded by close friends and family, most especially Jim Rogers, Polly Abernathy, Karen Janet Stingley, and others. He left this earth quietly in the presence of family. Bill is preceded in death by his mother, Frances; father Allen; and son Robert. He is survived by two sisters, Barbara Gilbreath and Mary Bloodworth of San Angelo; one daughter Professor Gina Bloodworth; and two ex-wives. He also leaves a large extended family in Texas. Bill touched countless lives and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oklahoma State University Botanical Garden and Arboretum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Texas family and friends will gather at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, in McKenzieville Cemetery for a memorial service followed by a gathering in Silver, Texas. McKenzieville Cemetery is on Highway 208 between Silver and Colorado City, about 8 miles past Silver. For more information call 949-2990.