Billy Joe Sitzes

1929 - 2018

Billy Joe Sitzes

God called Billy Joe "Bill" Sitzes, faithful husband, loving father and fun grandpa home to Eternity January 10th 2018.

He was born October 29th, 1929 in Pilot Point, Texas to Wayne and Virgie Sitzes. Bill graduated from Pilot Point high school then attended North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington where he received a degree in Industrial Mechanical Engineering. After working for Gulf Oil in Odessa, TX Bill later enrolled in and graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in Management followed by serving in the Army Corp of Engineers (which included a tour of duty in Austria). In 1961 he moved to Roswell, NM with Cities Service Oil Co where he met the love of his life Barbara Kurth on a blind date - the couple married December 9th, 1961. Several years later they had two children and moved to Houston where Bill worked for Wanda Petroleum and later co-founded Gulf Coast Petroleum in 1977. He retired in 1983 and moved back to North Texas where he and Barbara lived in Pilot Point and later Denton.

Bill loved people, telling good jokes, talking to grandkids and helping others. He also had an extremely soft heart for family pets and those less fortunate. By far, his greatest love was his family - as a young father you could often find him coaching his children's sports teams, hunting, fishing, camping or road tripping with his family on vacation. Later in life, Bill continued to pour into his family as a loving mentor and friend always with a positive outlook on life. He exemplified a tender warrior who loved deeply and fought for things that truly mattered. He loved Jesus and was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Denton and the Searchers Class, where he and Barbara attended, making many lifelong friends. Bill was also a member of the Denton Kiwanis club.

He is survived by siblings John "Paul" Sitzes and Virginia Ramsey Sitzes of Pilot Point and his children Susan Sitzes of Denton and Scott Sitzes (wife Kerri Sitzes) of Bartonville and 7 grandchildren Virginia, Grace, Jakob, Brynn, Anna, Margaret and Luke. He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Barbara Sitzes, his brothers Robert "Gene" Sitzes, Harold Wayne Sitzes, and Donald "Earl" Sitzes and his parents Wayne and Virgie Sitzes.

Special thanks go out to Advanced Rehab Trust, his doctors, the staff at The Atrium in Denton, Good Samaritan Village and Rambling Oaks in Highland Village where he spent his last days. But most of all, we thank our Heavenly Father for the time we had with Bill, the legacy he leaves behind and the hope of Eternity we all have through Jesus Christ. Although Bill's gone from our sight, there are many others welcoming him into Heaven.

The celebration of Bill's life will be January 27th, 11am, at the First United Methodist Church of Denton. Reception to follow the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to:

American Diabetes Foundation (https://donations.diabetes.org)

PO Box 15829

Arlington, VA 22215

COPD Foundation (https://www.copdfoundation.org)

3300 Ponce De Leon Blvd.

Miami, FL 33134

First United Methodist Church Building Fund

201 S Locust, Denton, TX 76201

DASF (Denton Animal Support Foundation)

www.dentonasf.com