William Francis FitzSimmons III

It is with great sadness that the family of William Francis FitzSimmons, III, Ingleside, announces his passing from this life on Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Bill, age 74, also affectionately called Fitz or Will, was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 20, 1933, the son of former Ingleside Mayor, the late William Francis FitzSimmons, Jr. and Woneita Hudgens. A member of the pioneer FitzSimmons family of Corpus Christi, he grew up in Ingleside. After high school and while attending Del Mar College, he met and married the love of his life, Carolyn Fowler, on November 17, 1951. They raised three daughters in Ingleside. He honorably served in the Army during the mid-1950s. After retirement from Southwestern Oil Refinery (Kerr McGee), he started his new job of playing golf almost every weekday at Sinton Municipal Golf Course. Besides his avid love of golf, he was a rancher and cattleman, enjoyed hunting, fishing, photography and loved his dogs. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his entire family. He will be greatly missed by his daughters Niki Maas (Don), Mesquite, Kathi Robichaux, Corpus Christi, and Donna Hull (Jerry), Ingleside, three granddaughters, Stephanie Yardley, Kandice Jarvis, and Lindsay Robichaux, two step-granddaughters, Jennifer Helm and Leslie Storment and three step-grandsons, J.B. Hull, Brian Hull and Joseph Nichols, nephew, Chief Petty Officer William J. Gaskins, niece, Laura Gracelyn Smith, cousin, George Belser and family, and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 48 years, Carolyn, and his sister, Laura Gaskins. He was loved by family, many lifelong friends and golfing buddies. The family would like to offer special thanks to Dr. Robert Jakubowski, and the nurses and staff of the Live Oak Unit at Christus Spohn Shoreline and a special thanks to the caring staff at the Holmgreen Center at Trinity Towers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633 or the charity of your choice. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday, April 7, 2008 at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home, Aransas Pass, with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home Chapel, Aransas Pass officiated by Pastor Dean Bearden of Corpus Christi. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery, Aransas Pass, Texas. Serving as pallbearers are Don Maas, Jerry Hull, Jason Jarvis, David Belser, Daniel Belser and Butch Teel. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Dahman, Dan Dubose, Johnny Kalenda, Gordon Porter and Jim Wilson. CHARLIE MARSHALL FUNERAL HOMES and CREMATORY, INC. 2003 W. Wheeler Ave. Aransas Pass, Texas 800/428-2922 charliemarshall@cableone.net