William R. Newsom

A memorial service for William Royce Newsom, age 82, of Montgomery will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Conroe with Dr. Jerry Neff and Reverend Wallace Shook officiating.

William was born January 15, 1928 in Iredell, Texas to William Royce and Imogene Parks Newsom and passed away on February 17, 2010 at his home in Montgomery, Texas. He was a graduate of Iredell High School. While too young to be able to participate through most of World War II, he managed to persuade recruiters to allow him to enter the Navy in 1945 as the war wound down. He served aboard the U.S.S. Robert K. Huntington Destroyer which had the primary responsibility of escorting troop transports back to the United States, occasionally encountering rogue Japanese submarines not willing to give up the fight.

At the age of 13, William had his first flying lesson and helped to pay for his college tuition by crop dusting when he was not planting potatoes for 25 cents per hour. He was a member of Mooney Aircraft Pilot’s Association, logging over 1200 hours in the air, with his last flight being in a Stearman Biplane in 2006.

William graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 and then received a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Southern Methodist University. He was a life Fellow in the American College of Hospital Executives and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Billie served on the Municipal Utility District Board for 12 years and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Board. As a member of the Methodist Church, he gave many years of service as an official board member, lay leader and Sunday School teacher.

An avid golfer, Billie shot his age 38 recorded times, the first time in August 2003 at the age of 75, and including 18 times in 2009 at the age of 81.

William is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Betty Jean Newsom of Montgomery; daughters, Julie Kennedy and Jamie Snow and husband JH, all of Dallas; grandchildren, Jordan Milan, Joseph Snow and wife Taylor, Erica Barnes and husband Matthew, Emily Snow, William Snow, Abigail Snow, Amanda Snow and Julia Snow. Numerous other relatives and friends also survive. You are invited to leave a written tribute for the family on our website at www.MeM.com.