William H. Parham

Bill was born on July 1, 1936 in Port Arthur, Texas where he lived for 59 years. Bill attended DeQueen Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High and graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 1954.

It was in the Woodrow Wilson library that Bill met his life-long sweetheart, Charlotte Ann Reames, they were married January 28, 1955 and reared two daughters. Bill was a great daddy to “the girls”, sitting through every dance performance, beauty pageant and cheerleading event.

He was an athlete, coach and an avid Port Arthur Yellow Jackets and UT Longhorn fan. Growing-up Bill played little league baseball and lettered in track and football in junior high and high school. He was an assistant football coach at Bishop Byrne High School in the late 50’s. Bill was a co-founder of the Port Arthur Junior Football League and coached the Colts team for 15 seasons. He also played and coached for many years in the Port Arthur Latin American Softball League and coached the Aldersgate Methodist Church softball team.

Bill served in the Texas Army National Guard, was a member of the Optimist Club, chaired the Port Arthur Parks and Recreation Board and was an active member of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

He was a structural steel rigger at Texaco for 40 years and a member of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union Local 4-23 where he served a number of terms on the Workmen’s Committee.

Bill and Charlotte (or “Boo and AhSha” as called by the grandsons) retired to Lago Vista in 1995 to be full-time grandparents. He spent many, many happy hours on their boat “The 5 C’s” and even more time cheering for the grandsons playing soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball and football.

Bill deeply loved Charlotte, “the girls”, “the boys”, “the pups”, family, friends and community. He was dearly loved and will be remembered always.

He is survived by Charlotte Reames Parham; daughters CJ Parham Tredway and Candy Parham Hinkle; grandsons Cade Parham Tredway, Cale Daniel Hammarstrom, Coby and Corey Hinkle; sons-in-law Rick Hinkle and Ellis E. Tredway; and sisters Sandra and Phyllis Parham.

At Bill’s request there will be no formal services. Should friends desire, donations may be made in memory of “Bill Parham” to the Darrell K. Royal Research Fund for Alzheimer’s Disease at www.dkrfund.org or PO Box 5839, Austin, TX 78763.