William Andrew McBride Sr.

William Andrew
McBride Sr.
HARLINGEN, TX. - William Andrew ``Bill' McBride, Sr., was born on June 5, 1921 in Covington Tennessee, and died at the age of 89 on January 27, 2011 in Harlingen, Texas, surrounded by four generations of his family. A man of great faith and integrity, he frequently said, ``God has blessed me daily for this lifetime.' Bill shared those blessings with all those whose life he touched. To his family, he was truly special - one of the greats who believed God is everywhere, a handshake meant something, and life was about family and community.
He married Dorothy Rainbolt in Houston, Texas on November 18, 1944, just days after returning from his Army Air Corps service in Italy as a B-24 bombardier. Bill and Dorothy's continuing love for each other was evidenced in simple ways, such as how they always held hands as they walked together. They resided in Harlingen since 1947 with the exception of three years when they lived in Ozona and Brownsville, Texas.
Bill served as Chairman of the Board of South Texas Lumber & Supply and General Manager of the Harlingen lumberyard. He was a past president of the Valley Lumbermen's Association and director of the Valley Homebuilders Association. He served as a director and member of the executive board of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas, and in 1994 was recognized as Texas Lumberman of the Year.
Bill's community involvement included membership for many years on the advisory board of the Valley Baptist Medical Center Building Committee, as a life member of the board of Asbury Theological Seminary, as a member of the Board of Stewards and Lay Leader of First Methodist Church in Harlingen, and as an advisory director of Texas State Bank. He was also a director of the Harlingen and Rio Grande Valley Chambers of Commerce, the Harlingen Industrial Council and the Harlingen Industrial Foundation. He served as trustee of Harlingen Waterworks System, as chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and vice president and director of the Kiwanis Club of Harlingen. A 65-year Mason, Bill was a member of Harlingen Masonic Lodge No. 1132, Scottish Rite, and the Alzafar Shrine Temple.
Bill is survived by his wife, Dorothy Rainbolt McBride; their daughter, Sandra McBride Hackard and her husband James Clifford ``Jim' Hackard, of San Antonio; their son William Andrew ``Bill' McBride, Jr. and his wife Judith Ann ``Judy' McBride, of Harlingen. Bill and Dorothy have five grandchildren: Andrew Scott Hackard of Austin; Gretchen Hackard Choe and her husband Chong-Hui Choe, of Dallas; Erin May McBride Hodgson and her husband Mark Allan Hodgson, of Brownsville; Molly Rose McBride, of Harlingen; and Sara Elizabeth McBride, of Atlanta, Georgia; great-granddaughter, Ella Katherine Hodgson and great-grandson, Jared Daniel Gibo. He is also survived by his sister Betty McBride Liles of Mason, Tennessee; brother Robert Thomas McBride and his wife Jackie of Lenoir City , Tennessee; sister-in-law Jenny Mason McBride, of Naples, Florida, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Newton McBride and Jessie Edwin Simonton McBride; brother Edwin Simonton McBride, and sisters Sarah Elizabeth McBride and Julia Floy ``Judy' McBride Maxey.
The family would like to thank the staff of Golden Palms, Lucy Garcia and Bill's caregivers for their loving support.
Services will be Monday, January 31, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Harlingen. Following a reception at the church, burial will be at Mont Meta Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Baptist Medical Center Foundation, 2121 Pease St., Suite 507, Harlingen, TX 78550; First United Methodist Church, 321 E. Harrison, Harlingen, TX 78550; or Asbury Theological Seminary Scholarship Fund, Office of Advancement, 204 N Lexington Ave., Wilmore, KY 40390.
You are invited to leave a memory or condolence at www.buckashcraft.com.
Arrangements are with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
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