Willis "Bill" Henderson Gilmore Jr.

Willis Henderson “Bill” Gilmore, Jr., 92, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at his home in Midland, Texas. Bill was born in Fort Worth on February 10, 1931, the eldest child of Willis Henderson Gilmore, Sr. and Dorothy Reed Gilmore. The family lived in the Cosden Oil Company camp in Penwell, Texas, and later moved to Midland in 1937 when Bill was six years old. Bill attended Midland public schools and was a graduate of Midland High School in 1948. He went on to attend The University of Texas at Austin on a Navy ROTC scholarship where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity, Phi Eta Sigma scholastic fraternity, and the Silver Spurs. Bill graduated from The University of Texas in May 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering and a commission in the United States Marine Corps.

Upon graduation from Marine Corps Basic Officer School at Quantico, Virginia and The Army Artillery Officers School at Fort Sill Oklahoma, Bill was assigned to the 31st Battalion 12th Marine stationed at Camp McNair, Japan, at the base of Mt. Fuji. He returned to Quantico in July 1955 and was released from active duty in October 1955. Bill then served in the US Marine Corps Reserve achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and remained close with the circle of friends who shared his Marine Corps experience.

Bill returned to Midland and began his career in the oil and gas industry as a production engineer with Moore & Gilmore in October 1955. In 1959, he joined Antelope Gas Products Company which later became Antelope Energy as the company moved from gas processing into exploration and production. Alongside his brother Reed Gilmore, Sr., Bill dedicated more than 60 years serving as a Manager of Antelope Energy and participated in numerous oil and gas entities throughout his career.

Bill married Katherine Elizabeth “Betty” Davis in Abilene, Texas on May 3, 1957. The couple settled in Midland, raised four children together and were lovingly married for 60 years. Bill prioritized his family above all obligations. He was also an active member of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church and later Christ Church Anglican where he enjoyed participating as a vestry member, Lay Eucharist Minister, and Sunday school teacher while forging lifelong friendships and serving the greater church and Midland communities.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty Gilmore; and brother, Reed Gilmore, Sr. Bill is survived by his daughters, Kathy Shannon of Midland and Karen Anderson and her husband Steve, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and sons, Willis Henderson (Trey) Gilmore, III and his wife Susan, of Cypress, Texas, and Laurence Gilmore, of Denver, Colorado. He was also blessed with eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, to whom he was known as “Grandad”.

A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Midland on Monday, July 10, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. Memorial donations may be sent in Bill’s honor to Christ Church Anglican, 5501 N. Midkiff, Midland, TX 79705; Haley Memorial Library & History, 1805 W. Indiana Ave, Midland, TX 79701; or the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, 1500 Interstate 20 West, Midland, TX 79701.

The family is very grateful for his wonderful caregivers, especially Sonya Tarango, Bianca Tarango, Maria Guerra, Alexis Mancha, Samantha Ramirez, and Yolanda Valenzuela for the loving care he received in his final years.