William K. "Bill" Lewis

William K. “Bill” Lewis, 85, of Itasca, Texas passed away Friday, September 27, 2019, after battling a heart condition and diabetes for many years. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 4, 2019, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Pastor Tom Wood officiating. Inurnment will be held at the Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery at a later date.  A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 3, at the funeral home.

Bill was born in Meadowview, Virginia on December 1, 1933, to Charles Lawrence Lewis and Glenn Pauline Terry Lewis. At the age of 2, his family moved to Hill County, Texas to the Mountain Valley Community.
 
Sixty-five years ago, on July 10, 1954, in Itasca, Texas he married Bettye Acton, his childhood friend. He became a proud father on December 19, 1958, to his only child, a son whom he adored. After living in Hillsboro and Dallas for a short period of time, they moved to Arlington, Texas in 1961, where he and his family resided until moving back home to Itasca in 2001. Bill was  a very caring, considerate, dedicated, devoted, kind and loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend to all. He was proud of his hometown. Bill’s commitment and love to his family and friends and attitude towards life came first; however, tractors, trucks, pick-ups, and all other equipment was very close behind and his knowledge of them was unending. He never met a stranger, he had a huge heart, and was always ready to help when he could.

He attended Itasca High School prior to enlisting in the United States Army in April of  1954 and soon was sent to Guam, where he served in the Corps of Engineers until April of 1956 and returned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri until April of 1957. After being discharged from the Army, he worked for the Texas State Highway Department, International Harvester, and the City of Arlington. In 1968, he “became his own boss” by owning and operating his own business, WKL Enterprise, Inc. and specialized in excavating and site preparation until he retired in 1998. After retirement, he enjoyed restoring tractors and the fellowship of all the antique and toy collectors. 

For many years, Bill was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Itasca, a 50 year member of Hillsboro Masonic Lodge No. 196 A.F. & A.M., Itasca R.E. Lee Lodge No. 469 A. F. & A. M., a 50 year member of Moslah Temple in Fort Worth and the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 769, and helped organize several antique tractor clubs and puller associations.

William was preceded in death by his parents; his son, James Lawrence Lewis; and his brother, John Edward Lewis.

William is survived by his wife, Bettye; nephew, John Michael Lewis; nieces, Nancy Acton-Caldwell and husband, Alan, and their daughter, Brittany, and Christine Acton-Pime and husband, Jeff, and their children, Alyssa and Nick; and many cousins both in Texas and other states.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Itasca, the Masonic Lodge, or to Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors to help with funeral expenses.

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