Billy Lee Windham Sr.

1935 - 2025

Billy Lee Windham Sr. was born on April 19, 1935, in Nash, Texas, to William Isom Windham and Lizzie Lee Windham. He passed peacefully from this life to the next on August 27, 2025, in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Billy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Elizabeth Windham; his parents; siblings Allene Almand, Georgiana Johnson, Samuel Windham, and Ralph Windham; and his niece Robin Bone.

He is survived by his son, Billy Lee Windham Jr. and wife Darlene of Albert TX; daughter, Sheri Lynn Dietert of Albert TX; grandchildren Kimberly Elizabeth Moreno of Saginaw, TX; Rebekah Lynn Collins and husband Kaleb of Canyon, TX; and Aaron Lee Windham of San Marcos, TX. He also leaves behind great-grandchildren Matthew Lee Windham, Aaron Lee Windham Jr., Aiden Conner Windham, Elizabeth Cecilia Moreno, Kelly Lynn Collins, Kyla Rose Collins, and Natalia Nicole Moreno, along with 13 nieces and nephews.

Billy grew up on a cotton farm, where he often shared the story of driving a John Deere tractor to the cotton gin at just six years old. He enrolled at the University of Texas the following fall semester Billy began at UT as an architecture major and played in the UT Marching Band, becoming the first drummer to play "Big Bertha," the band's iconic bass drum. As a result, he went to New York City to represent the university and was on the "Tonight Show" with Jack Parr.

Since spelling was not one of his strengths, after several attempts at freshman English, he transferred to Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, where he met the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Wilkinson They got married on August 1, 1958.

Billy earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in education from SWT (now Texas State University). He and Mary began their teaching careers in San Angelo, TX, where he taught math and she taught English. Their son Lee was born during their time in San Angelo.

In 1963, the family moved to San Marcos, where Billy became a professor of Industrial Arts at SWT. Shortly after, their daughter Sheri was born. He later earned a Doctorate in Education from Texas A&M University, often joking with Aggie friends that you can flunk out of UT and still earn a doctorate from A&M.

Dr. Billy Windham taught drafting at SWT for 37 years. While his students may have felt challenged by his high standards, his true joy came from shaping lives and instilling pride and excellence in their work.

Billy was a member of the Texas Institute of Building Design (TIBD) and designed over 2,000 homes in San Marcos and surrounding area over a 55-year period. He was also ordained and served as a deacon at First Baptist Church San Marcos.

Billy maintained an impressive collection of miniature John Deere tractors, each serving as a cherished reminder of his agricultural upbringing. Both the Windham family and Mary's family, who were rice farmers, had deep loyalty to John Deere, making the tractors a meaningful symbol of their shared heritage.

Visitation is Friday, September 5, 2025, 5:00-7:00pm at Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche St., San Marcos, Texas. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 2:00pm at First Baptist Church, 325 McCarty Lane, San Marcos, Texas. Burial will be on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 12:00pm at Italy Cemetery in Italy, Texas.