William Francis Farrell Jr.

William Francis Farrell, Jr., 91, passed peacefully on November 18, 2023. He was born November 22, 1931, in Short Hills, New Jersey but spent all of his life in Dallas, Texas. Bill left a legacy of leadership, service, family, and love.

Bill graduated from Highland Park High School in 1949, where he was an Eagle Scout, All-District Basketball player, and Head Cheerleader. He attended his beloved SMU and graduated in 1953. During his time at SMU, Bill was a three-year scholarship athlete on the swim team, serving as co-captain of the first ever SMU Southwest Conference championship squad. He was also the first three-time individual winner at that meet, taking all three freestyle sprint events. Bill served on the Student Council and was elected President of the SMU Student Body in 1952-53, as well as President of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Bill entered into the life insurance business after graduation and a two-year stint in the U.S. Air Force, where he retired as a 1st Lieutenant. He enjoyed a successful career in insurance, and was very active in many organizations in Dallas, including the Dallas Country Club, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, and the North Dallas Park Cities Kiwanis Club. Bill was always active in the church, serving as Deacon and Elder at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and later being one of the principal organizers and Elders of Park Cities Presbyterian Church.

His passion for serving his community moved him to serve on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Housing Authority for three years, including as Chairman of the Board in 1988. Recognizing the needs of the youth of West Dallas, he co-founded the Dallas chapter of the "I Have a Dream" Foundation, helping provide mentorship and college tuition for hundreds of West Dallas youth. In 2001, he started serving on the Board of Mercy Street, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to cultivate mutually transforming relationships with inner-city youth through Christian mentorship. Seeing the great need in that community, Bill retired from insurance and served as Development Director at Mercy Street for the next 13 years, retiring at the age of 85. With Bill's efforts, Mercy Street's budget and outreach more than quadrupled, and hundreds of West Dallas youth were, and continue to be, impacted by his service.

Bill's passing follows his daughter, Kimball Farrell Gonzalez, and former wives Tyke McFarland and Elaine Farrell. He is survived by his wife, June Driggers Farrell, and his children Hunter Farrell and Todd Farrell, Lisa Irby Edick, Bart Irby, Cyndi Waldrop, and Andy Driggers and their families, including 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Bill's kind and generous spirit blessed many in Dallas and beyond and continues through his family and friends into eternity.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, 4124 Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas, at 3:00 pm on Monday, December 4, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Mercy Street (www.mercystreetdallas.org)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Farrell family.