William Bill Gordon Edgar III

COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. God made Bill and offer he couldn't refuse. William "Bill" Gordon Edgar III, 90, left this life on Friday, April 11, 2014, in Timber Creek Village in Columbia Falls, Mont. He was born to Gordon and Fanchon (Chambers) Edgar in Fordyce, Ark., on March 26, 1924, where his mother had gone to visit her parents. His earliest years were spent in the East Texas oilfields in the early days of the Depression. As was the custom in those days, the father went where he could support his family and the family followed. Bill always said, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could." In 1939, the family moved to San Angelo where Bill graduated from high school in 1941, and then enrolled in San Angelo Junior College (now Angelo State University). When World War II began, Bill applied to the Army Air Corps for a drafting position and was accepted for employment in January 1942. He had met Virginia Hays at college and in September 1942, they married and shortly thereafter were transferred from Randolph Field in San Antonio to an air base in Deming, N.M., where he was senior engineering draftsman and in charge of the drafting department at age 18. In 1944, Bill enlisted in the Navy and subsequently served in the Philippine Islands, Okinawa and in the occupation forces at Hiroshima, Japan. Bill's career was varied and carried him and his family to many places. He spent seven years with the Texas Employment Commission (now Texas Workforce Commission). While employed full-time at the employment commission, he taught a night class of veterans' mechanical drafting and basic surveying San Angelo College. On weekends, he drew house plans for local builders and had a small farm he operated that grew a special grass seed. He also was a well-known square dance caller in the 1950's. During this same period, Bill learned to fly and received his private pilot's license and flew out of Mathis Field which in those days did not have radio communication between the control tower and aircraft, but used a system of lights. Later, in Oklahoma City, he owned and operated a night club named The Captain's Pub for nine years, followed by building operating an amusement park in Panama City Beach, Fla. Following that, he moved to Dallas and created an international courier service where he arranged shipping or hand carried highly classified documents and experimental parts for banks, electronic manufacturers and oil companies. This led him to Phoenix where he became import/export administrator for what was then Garrett Aerospace that manufactured jet engines for Lear jets and auxiliary power units for large aircraft along with components for torpedoes and missiles. While there, he was awarded a $5,000 competitive prize for developing a computer-driven shipping system that reduced the companies shipping cost by over $100,000 a year. The company later merged with Honeywell after Bill had retired in 1990. He and Virginia then moved back to San Angelo, where they lived until Virginia's passing in 2006. Bill then moved to Swan Lake, Mont., to live with his son, Bill and wife Carol. He remained there until his death. Bill and Virginia divorced in 1966, but 22 years later, in 1988, they reunited in Phoenix following Virginia's retirement from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his lifetime love, Virginia; his son, Bill IV; and sister Mary Frances Kissko. He is survived by his daughters, Jan Black (and lifemate Paul Fischer) and Fanchon Edgar (and longtime boyfriend Richard Carras), all of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandchildren Rebecca Edgar-Smith and her family of Cincinnati, Ohio, Cassandra Griffith and her family, currently stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and Bill Edgar V and his family of San Angelo, Texas; five great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law Carol Beck-Edgar (Swan Lake, Mont.); former "in-laws" Hobby and Nita Smith of San Angelo, Texas, and Jim and Jean McManus of North Carolina; and more nieces and nephews than Bill could count. Bill loved all of them with all his heart and was grateful to have had all of them in his life. Bill was very proud to have been chosen as the Golden Ex of the year at Angelo State University for the year 2004-2005. His quick wit and infectious laugh will be missed by all who knew him. He believed there was humor in everything if one looks for it. Bill's ashes along with those of Virginia will be spread together over the mountains near Phoenix, Ariz., where their life together began anew, so they may spend eternity together on the mountain top. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the charity of your choice or to the Angelo State University Alumni Association. Columbia Mortuary is caring for Bill's family. You are invited to columbiamortuary.com to view Bill's tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.